First description of the larva of Farrodes roundsi (Traver) (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) with comments on its phylogenetic relationships

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships of the species of Farrodes were revised recently (Domínguez 1999). Species of Simothraulopsis and Homothraulus (components of the Farrodes lineage) and three species formerly placed in other genera, Thraulus caribbianus (Traver, 1943), Thraulus roundsi (Traver, 1947) and Homothraulus maculatus (Needham and Murphy, 1924) were included in the analysis. As a result, these three species (the last two known only from adults) were transferred to Farrodes. Due to the unusual genitalia and the unknown larva of F. roundsi, some doubts about its position within the Farrodes lineage remained. Here, the recently reared larva of F. roundsi is described for the first time. Also, the original data matrix is re-analysed with the addition of larval characters of F. roundsi and F. carioca, recently described. As a result, a more stable phylogeny was obtained, and the position of F. roundsi within the F. caribbianus group was reconfirmed.

Keywords:

• Ephemeroptera
• Leptophlebiidae
• Farrodes roundsi
• larvae
• Colombia