Meropelopia flavifrons (Johannsen)

Namayandeh, Armin, Bilyj, Bohdan, Beresford, David V., Somers, Keith M. & Dillon, Peter J., 2012, 3324, Zootaxa 3324, pp. 1-65 : 10-11

Meropelopia flavifrons (Johannsen)

Figs 4A–G

Diagnosis. Head pale yellowish brown with posterior margin slightly darker, gular sclerite indiscernible; labrum as in Fig. 4A; maxillary palp ( Fig. 4B) with 2-segmented sensillum b; antenna as in Fig. 3C, basal antennal segment 265 µm long, 1.9–2.0x as long as mandible, AR 4.3–4.4; mandible ( Fig. 4D) with small accessory tooth; pseudoradula ( Fig. 4E) tapering to broader base with irregular rows of fine granules distally and coarser ones interspersed with wavy lines near base; ligula ( Fig. 4F) with strongly concave toothed margin, inner laterals slightly out-turned; ventral cephalic setae and VP as in Fig. 4G; body with scattered setae about half as long as subtending segment.

Notes. The larva of M. flavifrons can be separated from the above species by its smaller size (shorter basal antennal segment) and the form of the pseudoradula, which is more tapered and has wavy lines near the base.

Ecology and habitat. The species is common on leaf packs of first order mountain streams ( Hudson et al. 1990). They can occur in streams with pH 4.1–7.0 (X = 6.05) and water temperature of 9–18 °C (X = 14° C, Roback 1981). Larvae were common in all habitats of the study streams, found mainly in moss and leaf packs ( Roback 1981).

Sampling sites. We found the larvae inhabiting streams in all the provincial parks and districts located in our study area.

Nearctic distribution. Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan, first Ontario record, Québec. USA: Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee .