Eaton, 1875
Body
Medium sized larvae up to 6 mm long. Living larvae are mostly white, brownish stained or violet. The L4 setae is usually simpel. The anterior and posterior parapods are separate and bear rows of claws. Procercus and two pairs of anal tubules present (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Head
The head length is 0.24-0.34 mm. The eyes are partly fused but the smaller one is descernable Limnophyes head lateral (Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Antenna
The antenna consists of five segments. Segment 4 is longer than segment 3. The blade is as long or longer than the flagellum. Lauterborn organs are small or absent Limnophyes head lateral.
Mentum
The mentum has two median teeth and 5 pairs of lateral teeth. The ventromental plates are small but distinct. The beard is absent Limnophyes mentum. The setae submenti lie far from the mentum.
Labrum
The pecten epipharyngis consists of simpel scales, SI is simpel or branched. Labral lamellae are absent and the premandible has 2-4 teeth (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984b).
Mandible
The mandible has an apical tooth and 3 inner teeth. The seta interna has plumose (?always) branches (Wiederholm, 1983).
Differential characteristics
The combination of a mentum with 2 medial teeth and five pairs of laterals Limnophyes mentum and the lack of labral lamellae distinguish Limnophyes from all other Orthocladiinae. Limnophyes resembles Parametriocnemus but the ventromental plates are small Limnophyes mentum, contrasting the U-shaped plates in Parametriocnemus Parametr styl mentum. In Limnophyes the setae submenti lie posterior to the base of the submentum, which is exceptionally in Orthocladiinae.
Diversity
European species: 16
Treated species: 0