Overview

The family is restricted to Australia and New Zealand with a total of 6 genera and 16 species; the only Australian species is endemic to Tas.

Description

Adults moderately large to large with brown mottled wings of 30-40 mm span; wings at rest folded flat over body. Ocelli absent. Maxillary palps 1- or 2-segmented in males (Australian genus 1-segmented), 5-segmented in females. In Australian genus segment 1 of labial palp with short, rounded, apicomesal projection. Antennae about as long or slightly longer than fore wing, basal segment shorter than head. Mesoscutum with pair of elongate setal warts, scutellum with median wart. Wings broad, rounded apically, venation sexually dimorphic, often reduced or modified in males; vein R 1 joins R 2 close to wing margin; discoidal cell closed. Tibial spurs 2:4:4.
Larval head in frontal view almost circular, entirely surrounded by well developed carina; antennae close to eyes; ventral apotome broadly triangular, entirely separating the genae. Pronotum strongly sclerotised, short, with transverse elliptical bulge on each side; prosternal horn absent in Australian species, present in some New Zealand species; meso- and metanota each with 3 pairs of sclerites. Abdominal gills single or branched; lateral fringe present; segment 8 without lateral row of bifid spicules, anal claw with 2 or 3 accessory hooks. Larvae are detritivores and inhabit small, fast-flowing streams in forested areas; their cases are constructed of irregular pieces of plant material.