Illustrations Effective Communication strategy
I found illustrations to be the most effective way of communicating morphological information.
I chose characters which were comparable among species to allow for the delineation of the clearest differences between species. I soon discovered that the tiny hairs (setae) on the head were different in shape and distribution on different species of larvae. I also discovered other characters, for example setae on the legs, that helped me distinguish one species from another.
Differences in pupae were also diagnostic in some cases. I eventually expanded the scope of the study to include species from closely related taxa, using others’ illustrations along with my own, to clarify the relationships between them.
Synthesis
by Patricia
Head
Head and pronotum of a larva of Hydropshyche, showing setation.
Heads
Heads of various species of Hydropsyche larvae, showing variety of coulouration patterns.
Heads
Heads of various species of Hydropsyche larvae, showing variety of colouration patterns.
Larva
Setae from abdomen of hydropsychid larva.
Larva
Larva of Hydropsyche species, showing location of setation.
Legs
Right legs of a Hydropsyche larva, showing setation.
Prolegs
Anal prolegs of two species of Hydropsyche larvae, showing differences in setation.
Larva
An undescribed species of Hydropsyche larva from Vietnam, showing enlarged view of abdominal setae (lower left).
