Overview
This is the dominant family of Australian mayflies comprising more than 50% of the described genera and about 70% of the described species; numerous genera and species remain to be described. Only the subfamily A
talophlebiinae
occurs in Australia.
Description
Nymphs are dorso-ventrally flattened with prognathous heads and variously shaped gills, usually with double lamellae, on abdominal segments 1-7. Adult males have their eyes divided into a large upper portion with large facets and a smaller, lower portion with smaller facets (Horridge and McLean 1978). In the fore wings, vein CuP is strongly recurved. The hind wings are relatively small and are absent in some exotic genera. The two tarsal claws may be similar or dissimilar.
Atalophlebia
is the largest Australian leptophlebiid genus at present with 18 described species, some of which are certain to be transferred to other genera in the future. Nymphs of many species with multidigitate abdominal gills tend to be found in standing or slowly flowing waters. Several species inhabit the crevices of logs. Nymphs of many species crawl from the water before ecdysis, and although some species have adults which swarm above the stream, it is more common for the males to patrol stretches of stream.