Kieffer, 1912
Body
Medium sized to large larvae up to 11 mm long. Conserved larvae are white-yellow. Dark brown setae on the thorax, the preanal segment and on the base of the procercus. The body seta are simpel. The anterior parapods are fused basally with crowns of claws. The two posterior parapods bear rows of claws. Two pairs of anal tubules present. The anal segment is strongly reduced, resulting in the procercus lying dorsal of the anal tubules, where the procercus normally lies proximal to the anal tubules (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Head
The head length is 0.50 - 0.65 mm (Moller Pillot, 1984b). The head is yellow-brown or darker with black mouthparts. The dorsal part of the labrum with 2 pairs of thickened chitinous plates (labral sclerites 1 and 2) Card fuscus head dorsal.
Antenna
The antenna consists of five segments. The blade is subequal to the flagellum. Lauterborn organs are conspicuous.
Mentum
The mentum has one broad median tooth and 5 pairs of lateral teeth. The ventromental plates are weak and the beard is absent Card fuscus mentum.
Labrum
The pecten epipharyngis consists of three scales, SI is simpel and the premandible has a strong basal tooth and a single or weakly bifid apical tooth. (Wiederholm, 1983).
Mandible
The mandible with a distal tooth and 4 inner teeth. The seta interna with plumose branches (Wiederholm, 1983).
Differential characteristics
Cardiocladius inhabits rivers and streams. In this biotope the combination of 5 pairs of lateral teeth on the mentum Card fuscus mentum, weak ventromental plates, simpel SI, and mandible with 4 inner teeth separates Cardiocladius from all other Orthocladiinae, except from Thienemanniella which has an antenna that is half the head length and Eukiefferiella which is smaller than Cardiocladius. Distinctive however is the reduced anal segment causing the procercus lying dorsal of anal tubules instead of proximal. Also the thick chitinous plates on the dorsal side of the labrum Card fuscus head dorsal separates Cardiocladius from the other Orthocladiinae.
Diversity
European species: 3
Treated species: 0