Drab Splinter Longtail Austrolimnophila ochracea

This came to light and was keyed using the Stubbs BENHS book. Having just keyed another member of the subfamily Limnophilinae and missed the tibial spurs I checked more carefully for them this time, but could not see any sign of them. I therefore started keying it as Chioneinae but soon reached a dead end. The text at the dead-end implied that the wing venation was more typical of Limnophilinae so I had another even closer look at the hind tibia, and still could not see any spurs. At this point I figured I might need to get a clear view of the genitalia so took the end of the abdomen off and put it in KOH to clean it up. I then began to key it as Limnophilinae and quickly came to Austrolimnophila ochracea, at which point I realised it would help to see the end of the abdomen before any pigment had been lost so rapidly extracted it from the KOH. I could just about see the dark band just in from the genitalia, and could also see the genitalia matched this species (as seen in photos online - neither of the books show the genitalia). I probably didn't need to worry anyway as the absence of an arcular vein between veins M and R appears to be diagnostic. For completeness I had once last look at the legs. I had previously examined one of the legs that had fallen off and I wasn't sure which it was, so now made sure I looked at a hind leg. The key implies the tarsal spurs should be present on all legs, but it wouldn't be the first time I've seen a key assume I'm psychic and know to look at the hind legs only! Anyway, I could just make out one spur on this leg provided I held it at the right angle. The wing was 6.2mm long.

male Drab Splinter Longtail Austrolimnophila ochracea showing wing (including close-ups aroud discal cell and around the base of vein M), hind tarsal spurs or lack thereof (the first two photos show opposite sides of the same leg and the third is a hind leg) and genitalia and end of abdomen, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 24th September 2024