Alloecentrella magnicornis explained

Alloecentrella magnicornis is a species of caddisfly belonging to the order Trichoptera. The species was first described by Keith Arthur John Wise in 1958, and is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

The holotype of the species was originally collected in the Waitākere Township area in 1934, and is housed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[1] Alloecentrella magnicornis was not recognised as a distinct species until 1958. Wise created the genus Alloecentrella due to morphological differences found in Alloecentrella magnicornis not seen in other New Zealand caddisflies. The genus was monotypic until 2007.[2]

Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Alloecentrella magnicornis forms a clade with Pycnocentrella eurensis, and is more distantly related to Pycnocentria species, Beraeoptera roria, Confluens hamiltoni, Pycnocentrodes aureolus and species of Olinga.[3]

Description

Wise's original text (the type description) reads as follows:

The larvae of the species has a frontoclypeus with lateral margins.

Diet

Alloecentrella magnicornis feeds on liverworts and mosses.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to New Zealand, known to occur on the North Island.[4] It is one of two Alloecentrella caddisflies known to occur on the North Island, alongside Alloecentrella incisus.[4]

Alloecentrella magnicornis is often found in swift-flowing streams in the upper North Island, typically in forested areas where rock substrates allow liverworts and mosses to grow.[5]

Adults and larvae of the species are known to be present from October to late February.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alloecentrella magnicornis . . 25 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Alloecentrella cirratus Henderson & Ward, 2007 . Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research . 23 July 2024.
  3. 10.1080/00288330.2009.9626536. 0028-8330. 43. 5. 1137–1146. Hogg. Ian D. Smith. Brian J. Banks. Jonathan C. Dewaard. Jeremy R. Hebert. Paul DN. Testing use of mitochondrial COI sequences for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand caddisflies (Trichoptera). New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 2009. 2009NZJMF..43.1137H. 10289/3545. free.
  4. 0165-0424. 29. 2. 79–96. Henderson. Ian M. Ward. John B. Three new species in the endemic New Zealand genus Alloecentrella (Trichoptera), and a re-evaluation of its family placement. Aquatic Insects. 2007 . 10.1080/01650420701381155. 2007AqIns..29...79H.
  5. 10.1080/03014223.1978.10423816. 0301-4223. 5. 4. 639–750. Cowley. DR. Studies on the larvae of New Zealand Trichoptera. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 1978.