Oecetis inconspicua (Walker 1852)

Oecetis inconspicua (Walker)

Leptocerus inconspicuus Walker, 1852:71.

Oecetis inconspicua.—Betten and Mosely, 1940:67.—Flint, 1964:64.—Fischer, 1966:149.

This common North American species is known from Central America, the Greater Antilles, and now northern South America. It has a very extensive bibliography and many synonyms for which one should consult the Fischer reference above.

MATERIAL.—VENEZUELA, ARAGUA: Punta Cabito, Lago Valencia, 13 Feb 1974, 31 2. BARINAS: Río Santo Domingo, Barinas, 17 Feb 1976, 1 2. Puente Parangula, 8 km S Barinitas, 18 Feb 1976, 4 6; 22–23 Feb 1969, 1. BOLIVAR: Río Caroni at Paso Caruachi, 9 Feb 1976, 3. 5 km E Tumeremo, 12 Feb 1976, 9 1. CARABOBO: Yuma, 7 Aug 1975, 2. GUARICO: 12 km S Calabozo, 6–12 Feb 1969, 13 4. Lago de los Patos, 15 km S Calabozo, 9 Feb 1969, 100 . MONAGAS: Uverito, 22 Jun 1978, 1.

Oecetis inconspicua (Walker)

Leptocerus inconspicuus Walker, 1852:71.

Oecetis inconspicua (Walker).—Flint 1964b:64; 1981a:33.—Fischer, 1966:149; 1972b:32.—Bueno-Soria and Flint, 1978:213.

This is a very widespread species found from Canada south through Central America and the Greater Antilles, to Colombia and Venezuela. The species has an extensive bibliography and synonymy for which one should consult the Fischer references. The larvae were described by Ross (1944). They apparently live in all sorts of aquatic situations from lentic to lotic, but probably not in the most turbulent sections of small streams.

No males were taken in Antioquia, but the females match females in other series in maculation and genitalia.

MATERIAL.—COLOMBIA. DPTO. ANTIOQUIA: Río Medellín, 5 km S Caldas, 16 Feb 1983, O.S. Flint, Jr., 2. I have examples, including males, from the Departments of Meta and Tolima in Colombia.

Oecetis species

A single female of an unknown species was taken in emergence trap A. The wing markings look identical to those of O. knutsoni Flint, but the genitalia are very different. The genitalia are quite similar to those ascribed to O. prolongata Flint (Flint, 1981a, Fig. 151). There are, however, enough differences to show that the two species are distinct although closely related.

MATERIAL.—COLOMBIA. DPTO. ANTIOQUIA: Quebrada La Cebolla, El Retira (trap A), Oct 1983, U. Matthias, 1.

In Illinois, adults can be found from early May to mid-October.

Widespread (LaFontaine, 1981). From British Columbia, east to Nova Scotia and south to Mexico.

Adults are brown with a reddish cast, however there are no distant markings otherwise. The claspers of males are small and directed posterad, with a sinuate ventral edge. There are minute papillae present dorsad of the cercus (Ross, 1944).

Standing and flowing waters.

Larvae are predacious.

Oecetis inconspicua is a species of long-horned caddisfly in the family Leptoceridae. It is found in North America.