Kieffer, 1906
Body
Medium sized to large larvae up to 15 mm long. The anterior and posterior parapods are separate and bear rows of claws. Procercus with one to many spurs Psec platypus procercus9 Psec psilopterus procercus9 and two pairs of anal tubules present (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Head
The head length is 0.5-0.9 mm (Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Antenna
The antenna consists of five segments. The blade is shorter than the flagellum. Lauterborn organs are small or absent.
Mentum
The mentum has one Psec psilopterus mentum or two median teeth Psec barbimanus mentum and 5 pairs of lateral teeth. The ventromental plates are large and covering some lateral teeth. The beard is distinct.
Labrum
The pecten epipharyngis consists of three subequal spined scales. The SI is palmate Psec barbimanus S1 and the premandible has one apical tooth (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Mandible
The mandible has an apical tooth which is a little shorter Psec sord mandible9 or up to 4 x as long as the 3 inner teeth Psec platypus mandible9. The seta interna is absent in P. (Allopsectrocladius) and P. (Mesopsectrocladius) and present in P. (Psectrocladius) and P. (Monopsectrocladius) (Wiederholm, 1983).
Differential characteristics
The combination the palmate SI Psec barbimanus S1 on the labrum, beard present and procercus with spurs Psec psilopterus procercus9 is distinctive for the genus Psectrocladius.
Diversity
European species: 17
Treated taxa:
Species-group Psectrocladius gr. psilopterus
Species-group Psectrocladius gr. sordidellus
Psectrocladius barbimanus
Psectrocladius calcaratus
Psectrocladius obvius
Psectrocladius platypus