Genus Antipodoecia Mosely 1934

(Figs 1–24, 27)

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters is unique in Trichoptera: The small pointed forewings each have no discoidal cell and forks I, II, and V only, and an unusual notch in the anterior margin at about 2/3 length. On the head, ocelli are absent; the male maxillary palps are held in front of the face and each have two to four segments. The female is distinctive with a very broad and posteriorly projected abdominal sternite VIII, which is heavily setose and has strong, prominent, anterolaterally projected apodemes. In the pupa, the mandibles have an unusual apical whip-like filament and there are no swimming fringes on the legs. The larval head has a strong, beaded carina which almost encircles the head, and multibranched, very short and fine secondary setae. The presence of paired tentorial pits on the frontoclypeus is unusual. The mandibles are scoop-shaped, each with a brush of long setae mesally. The pronotum also has a strong, beaded carina like that on the head and a strong projection on each anterolateral corner. The anal claws each have a dorsal comb of 5 to 9 teeth. A lateral row of about 10 bifid processes is present on each side of abdominal segment VIII. The larval case has a posterior closure membrane which includes an aperture overhung by a dorsally protruding canopy of silk.

Description. Adult. Small, length of each forewing 2.9 to 4 mm. Head with ocelli absent; antennae about as long as forewings, scape cylindrical, about twice as long as wide; frontal setal warts large, ovoid; anteromesal warts separate, subtriangular; posterior setal warts large, oval; male maxillary palps each 2-, 3-, or 4-segmented (3- segmented most common), palps curved and held in front of face (Fig. 5), female maxillary palps each 5- segmented; labial palps each 3-segmented in both sexes. Thorax with pronotal warts transversely elongate, extending almost to lateral margin; mesoscutal setal warts small and indistinct or absent; scutellum with single, large dome-shaped wart. Forewings pale brown, sometimes with pale patches; slender, apically pointed, each with distinct notch at about 2/3 length, paler opaque area immediately posterior to notch extending to vein R; forks I, II, and V present, sessile or with footstalks; thyridial cell present, discoidal and median cells absent (Figs 1, 3). Hind wings more slender, apically pointed, each with fringe of setae on posterior margin, length of setae about equal to width of wing; wing venation reduced, no cells present, forks II and V present (Figs 2, 4). Wings similar in both sexes, fewer complete veins in specimens from far northern Queensland (Figs 3, 4). Tibial spurs 2:2:4; mid legs each with row of short, dark, relatively evenly spaced spines on femur and tibia, first 4 segments of tarsus each with 3 short, dark, apical spines; fore- and hind legs with short, dark spines on tarsi only, arranged as on mid leg. Abdomen with sternite VII bearing sclerotised medial projection on posterior margin, projection shorter in females, size and shape possibly species specific. Male segment X broad, apically excised, with pair of narrow finger-like lateral projections near base (absent from some specimens in southern NSW); phallus slightly bifurcate apically; superior appendages absent; inferior appendages broad and bifurcate, upper branch broad with flat surface facing lower branch, lower branch narrow with distinctive dark tip, apparently articulating with upper branch (Fig. 6). Female abdominal sternite VIII broad, posteriorly projected, heavily setose, with strong anterolateral sclerotised apodemes, probably used as support when carrying egg mass (Figs 8, 9, 10). Tergite IX with sclerotisation variable, strongest on anterior margin and posterolateral projections and their basal depressions, membranous ventrally, numerous short pale setae posteriorly, longer on projections, dense in depressions; with small dorsal pleurites close to anterior margin of tergite IX, (Figs 7, 8, 9, 10). Sternum IX membranous with numerous small setae near dorsal margin. Tergite IX displaced under tergite VIII after deposition of egg masses (Fig. 10). Vaginal apparatus highly membranous with thin, twisted, and bifurcate sclerite, the prongs deeper ventrally (Fig. 11). Vaginal apparatus uniform (though small number of specimens examined).

Pupa. Labrum semicircular with 3 dorsal setae in each of anterolateral and basolateral corners (Fig.12); pair of strongly developed tentorial pits posterior to labrum; mandibles broad and deep basally, each narrowing and dorsoventrally flattened in apical half, inner margin without teeth but very finely serrate, apex attenuate, slender and whip-like (Fig. 13); antennae reaching apex of abdominal segment VII. Wing pads reaching apex of abdominal segment VI; legs without swimming fringes. Abdomen (Fig. 14) without gills or setal fringe; anterior hook plates on segments III–VI (each plate usually with 2 hooks) and posterior hook plates on segment V (each plate rectangular, usually 2 hooks adjacent to posterior margin); anal processes long, slender and recurved, each with single long seta just before midlength; very small spicules apparently present over much of body surface but difficult to see when body darkly pigmented.

Larva. Small, length of final instar 5 mm or less (Fig. 15). Head round in dorsal view (Fig. 17) with strongly developed carina almost encircling head (Fig. 27); carina strongly beaded, particularly anterior to eyes; antennae very small, each located below carina about halfway between eye and anterior margin of head capsule (Figs 18, 27); frontoclypeus variable in shape; paired tentorial pits on frontoclypeus (Fig. 20); head sculptured with numerous small round tubercles; very short and delicate multibranched secondary setae interspersed between tubercles, setae longer in tubercle-free area toward anterior margin (Fig. 21); robust unbranched secondary setae along front margin of frontoclypeus; ventral apotome short equilateral triangle, extending to occipital margin; ventral apotome and abutting margins of genae very short relative to dorsal length of head capsule (Fig. 18). Pronotum heavily sclerotised; each lateral margin with strong, beaded carina extending from midline near posterior margin and terminating in long, apically acute anterolateral projection somewhat flattened dorsoventrally (Figs 15, 27); many short unbranched secondary setae, mostly lateral and along carina and anterior margin; tubercles and delicate multibranched secondary setae also present. Mesonotum moderately sclerotised with numerous short secondary setae (Fig. 17). Metanotum weakly sclerotised bearing few short setae (Fig. 17). Legs moderately setose, midleg slightly longer than foreleg, hind leg clearly longer than midleg (Fig. 16). Abdominal segment I with dorsal hump low; lateral humps inconspicuous, each bearing narrow oblique pad of very short modified setae (Figs 15, 22). Abdomen without gills or lateral setal fringe; lateral row of about 10 bifid spicules on each side of abdominal segment VIII (Fig. 15); tergum IX without sclerite, with 4 long and 6–8 fine short setae; anal claws, ventral sole plate, and lateral sclerite all small, with long thin sclerite extending ventrally from near base of each sole plate (Fig. 15); anal claw each with series of 5 to 9 accessory dorsal teeth (Fig. 19).

Case. Constructed of sand grains, cylindrical, gently tapered and slightly curved (Fig. 23); posterior end with silk closure membrane including aperture overhung dorsally by protruding canopy of silk (Fig. 24).

Type material. Holotype: male, New South Wales, Ebor, 10 & 12 Jan. 1916, R. J. Tillyard (BMNH, balsam preparation) . Paratypes: 3 males, collected with holotype (BMNH) (Types not examined) .

Material Examined. Queensland. 2F, Carron Ck, Kirrama State Forest, Apr 1993, G. Theischinger; 3M, 4F, Camp Creek tributary, Mt Spec State Forest, five dates 12 Dec 1993 to 23 Apr 1994, A.L.Sheldon; 1M, 5F, unnamed creek Paluma Dam Rd, Mt Spec State Forest, 31 Oct 1993 and 17 Apr 1994, A.L. Sheldon; 1F, un-named creek “cascade”, Mt Spec State Forest, 17 Mar 1994, A.L. Sheldon; 1M, 4F, Birthday Ck below falls, Mt Spec State Forest, 17 and 23 Mar 1994, A.L. Sheldon; 1F Birthday Ck 3.5 km WNW of Paluma, 17 Feb 1990, R. St Clair; 1M, 1F, Dalrymple Ck, near Eungella, 3 Apr 1993, G. Theischinger; 1F, Carnarvon Gorge, 12 Nov 1990, G. Theischinger; 1F, Brown Falls, Killarney, 13 Oct 1973, A. Neboiss; 7M, 3F, Queen Mary Falls, Killarney, 12 Oct 1973, A. Neboiss; 1M, 1F, Brown River at Falls, near Killarney, 25 Oct 1981, A. Wells and Carter; 197L, Dawson Creek, Mount Nebo, 2 Mar 1973, collector unknown; 2L, Purlingbrook Falls, Springbrook, 8 Feb 1973, collector unknown; 3L, Mt Barney Creek, Mount Barney Nat Park, 13 Jun 1997, J. Jackson; 7L, Stony Creek, Conondale Ranges, 11 Jun 1997, J. Jackson; 1M, 6F Girraween National Park, near Wyberba, 10 Oct 1973, A. Neboiss. New South Wales. 1M, Boonoo Boonoo R, upstream of Falls, 11 Oct 1973, A. Neboiss; 2M, 1P, Korrumbyn Ck, eastern slopes of Mt Warning, 29 Jul 1988, A. Neboiss; 1M, 6F, Terania Ck, N of Lismore, 21 Jan 1986, G. Theischinger; 1F, Dawson Springs, Mt Kaputar National Park, 9 Oct 1973, A. Neboiss; 3L, Upper Styx River, 21 Feb 1966, E.F. Riek; 1L, Upper Allyn River, 16 Feb 1966, E.F. Riek; 2L, Platypus Creek, site BELL16, 11 Oct 1995, Monitoring River Health Initiative (MRHI); 2L, Manning River, Henrys Bridge, 8 Apr 1998, MRHI; 7L, Manning River, Pheasant Creek Road, 3 Dec 2007, A. Glaister, J. Dean & R. St Clair; 6L, Allyn River, 0.6 km u/s Ladies Well, 28 Nov 2007, A. Glaister, J. Dean & R. St Clair; 2M, Gloucester Tops, 19 Nov to 4 Dec 1988, D. Bickel; 1F, Jerusalem Falls, near Karuah, 6 Dec 1988, G. Theischinger; 2L, Caparra Creek, Caparra Hut, 14 Oct 1998, MRHI; 1L, Brindle Creek, Brindle, 9 Oct 1998, MRHI; 10L, tributary of Forbes River, South Plateau Rd, 3 Oct 1995, MRHI; IF, Blue Mountains, Leura, Leura Cascades, 1 Jan 1979, A. Wells; 13M, Blue Mountains, Leura, Leura Cascades, 12 Dec 1984, A. Wells; 3M, Blue Mountains, Leura, Lyre Bird Dell, 12 Dec 1984, A. Wells; 10M, Blue Mountains, Leura below falls, 13 Dec 1984, A. Wells; 2P, 14L, Blue Mountains, Bridal Veil Falls, 27 Dec 1978, A. Wells; 5L, Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls, 31 Dec 1984, A. Wells; 1M, 1F, Undercliffe Falls, 25 km E of Stanthorpe, 11 Nov 1973, A. Neboiss; 9M, 3F, Undercliffe Falls, 12 km E of Liston, 24 Oct 1981, A. Wells and?. Carter, 24 Oct 1981; 5L Wentworth Falls, 31 Dec 1978, A. Wells; 1F, Apsley R, 29 Oct 1981, A. Wells and Carter; 1F, Coombadja Ck, Washpool State Forest, 5 Jan 1986, G. Theischinger; 6M, 5F, Bargo R, 10 km SW of Picton, 31 Dec 1971, A. Neboiss;1M, Bundanoon, Sep 1983, G. Theischinger. Victoria. 1M, Erskine Falls, 18 Feb 1984, G. Theischinger; 20M, 1F, 8P, 18L, Steavensons Falls, Upper Gellibrand River, Otways, 20 Jan 1982, A. Neboiss and A. Wells; 3M, 1F, Carisbrook Falls, Otways, 23 Jan 1953, A. Neboiss; 4M, 4F, Masons Falls, Kinglake National Park, 15 Feb 1953, A. Neboiss; 1M, Toorongo Falls, 7 km NE of Noojee, 27 Nov 1981, J. Morse and A. Neboiss; 1L, Fork Ck, Mt Stirling, 16 Apr 1985, R. Morely; 1L, Falls Ck, Mt Stirling 7 Apr 1987, collector unknown; 1F, Mt Feathertop, 12 Feb 1984, G. Theischinger; 1F, Falls Creek, Bogong High Plains, 26 Jan 1960, A. Neboiss; 3M, 4F, Winnots Ck, Cann Valley, 21 Mar 1977, A. Neboiss. Tasmania. 4L, near Lake Gordon, 12 Nov 1987, J. Jackson; 2L, Scotts Peak Dam Rd, 6 Oct 1987, J. Jackson.

Genetic results. In September 2018, data were available on BOLD (http://www.boldsystems.org) for 14 specimens of Antipodoeciidae . Nine different Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) were assigned by BOLD. Specimens are assigned a unique BIN number for clusters considered to represent a single species. The neighbour-joining, taxon ID tree produced on the BOLD website showed genetic distances between these BIN numbers were very large (Fig. 30). Two pairs of BIN numbers were separated by just under 5% but most were 10% to 30% different. Such distances are generally indicative of different genera and yet the morphology of the males is almost uniform. These distances between BIN numbers are similar to distances between different species of Contulma .

The type locality of Antipodoecia turneri is listed as “Ebor, New South Wales ”. As none of the specimens with barcodes were collected near the type locality, we have not identified any of our specimens as A. turneri . Three specimens are labelled A. turneri in Fig. 30, but are unlikely to be that species.