Mayatrichia

Mosely, 1937

Species Guides

1

Mayatrichia is a of microcaddisflies in the Hydroptilidae. The genus was established by Mosely in 1937. Detailed information is available for M. ponta, which exhibits ontogenetic microhabitat shifts and asynchronous multivoltine development with five overlapping per year. Larval cases undergo morphological change from conical to cylindrical form during development.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mayatrichia: /maɪəˈtrɪkiə/

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Habitat

Running water environments, specifically streams. In M. ponta, larvae occupy substrates with ontogenetic shifts in positioning: early instars distributed evenly on all sides of substrates, while fifth instar larvae and pupae aggregate on the bottom side of substrates.

Distribution

recorded from Colorado (U.S.A.) based on distribution records. M. ponta documented from Honey Creek, Turner Falls Park, Murray County, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Seasonality

Year-round activity with asynchronous multivoltine ; development rate reduced in winter.

Life Cycle

Asynchronous multivoltine with considerable cohort and overlap; five generations estimated annually in M. ponta. Development rate reduced in winter. Winter generations exhibit wider capsule widths (136–165 μm) compared to summer generations (121–145 μm). Sex ratio of 1.43 male : 1 female. ranges from 46 to 150 per female. Larval cases change shape from small cone to cylinder during ontogeny.

Behavior

Ontogenetic microhabitat shift: early instars distributed evenly on all sides of substrates, while fifth instar larvae and pupae aggregate on the bottom side of substrates. This pattern has been categorized as potentially flow-mediated, flow-independent, or related to interactions and resource availability.

More Details

Data limitations

All detailed data derive from a single study of M. ponta in Honey Creek, Oklahoma (August 1994–August 1995). No information is available for other in the or for genus-level traits beyond taxonomic placement.

Sources and further reading