Taxonomy of Eurylophella coxalis (McDunnough) with notes on larval habitat and behavior (Ephemeroptera:Ephemerellidae)

Larval stages have been associated for all of the known species of Eurylophella in eastern North America except for E. coxalis. The larva of E. coxalis is described herein from a reared series of specimens. Adults are redescribed and eggs are described for the 1st time, as are notes on larval habitat and behavior. Association of E. coxalis completes our knowledge of the life stages of a presumed different species, Dentatella bartoni, which was previously known only from the larval stage. This larva is now determined to be the larval stage of E. coxalis. Further, characters used to diagnose Dentatella danutae have shown that this taxon is not different from what has been called D. bartoni. Thus, Dentatella bartoni (Allen) and D. danutae McCafferty are now placed as subjective junior synonyms of E. coxalis. A conservative criterion requiring that apomorphic characters be discernable in both larval and adult life stages is proposed for recognizing mayfly genera when knowledge of life stages and/or the phylogenetic nature of diagnostic characters is incomplete. Field and laboratory observations of live E. coxalis larvae show this species to be associated with cold, swift, alkaline streams containing coarse inorganic substrates with well-developed periphyton.

3 citations (Crossref) [2023-10-31] Citation Key Alias: lens.org/107-802-643-426-414 tex.type: [object Object]