Trichoptera: Limnephilidae of Gunnison County, ColoradoIntroduction to LenarchusMartynov, 1914Updated 28 February 2026
I have seen larvae of Lenarchus sp. with cases of irregular fragments of bark and leaves from the Upper East river valley. However they are not common. Potential Species ListLenarchus brevipennisLenarchus fautini Good LinksOther Websites:Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Lenarchus at GBIF ReferencesMartynov,AV 1914 Ann Mus Petrograd 19(2) 222Ross,HH; Merkley,DR 1952 An annotated key to the nearctic males of Limnephilus (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae). American Midland Naturalist 47:435-455. Has keys to identify North American adults. Quote from pages 436-437: "Two genera of the Limnephilus complex seem to represent phylogenetic units definitely apart from the large aggregation of Limnephilus itself. These are Philarctis and Lenarchus. --snip-- Lenarchus was described by Martynov in 1915 with the inclusion of four named species and one unnamed species but with no designation of genotype. Asynarchus productus Morton was mentioned first, and first treated in detail, so were are hereby designating this species as the genotype of Lenarchus. The genus includes nine North American species. These species fall into several sub-groups which differ from each other very radically but which have in common the shape of the claspers, the broad ninth tergite, and the horizontal and dorsal position of the cerci. The clasper in particular is unique. Its attached basal portion is wide ventrally and narrows dorsally; the apical free part may be absent, but if present is a finger-like projection arising almost as an independent filament. In Limnephilus lithus Milne the basal portion of the clasper approaches this conditon, fig 24, but the apex of the clasper has a projection typical of Limnephilus. We have found no corresponding distinctive character to set off the females of Lenarchus from Limnephilus. In this sex the genitalia in particular are extremely varied in both genera, but further study may point out diagnostic differences. It is interesting that certain species of Lenarchus, such as gravidus Hagen, are remarkably similar in size and appearance to some of the larger Limnephilus. Whether the group of species here placed in Lenarchus is a natural unit or is purely an artificial grouping is a problem which needs elucidation through a study of the world fauna of the entire complex."  Schmid,F 1952 Le group de Lenarchus Mart. (Trichoptera, Limnoph.). Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 25(3): 157-210. Also studies adults of Lenarchus. |