Integrative Taxonomy and Life Stage Associations in Nectopsyche fuscomaculata Flint, 1983 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae)

Semaphoronts are entities that carry the characteristics of individuals at different periods over time, essential for understanding species in various biological areas. In the long-horned caddisfly genus Nectopsyche Müller, 1879 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae), there is a significant lack of knowledge about semaphoronts, especially in South America. Historically, descriptions have focused mainly on adult males, with descriptions of larvae, pupae, and adult females occurring in isolated studies. This study addresses the Haeckelian shortfall by associating adults and larvae of the genus Nectopsyche using mitochondrial COI gene sequences. The study was conducted in the Rio Doce hydrographic basin, southeastern Brazil, where specimens were collected and photographed. The resulting DNA sequences were compared with data available and analyzed using Neighbor-Joining methods. Our findings show that N. fuscomaculata and its congeners were recovered with high support values, presenting a barcode gap of 7% among them. As a result, the association between the adult female and larval semaphoronts with the adult male of N. fuscomaculata was established. The previously unknown semaphoronts of this species, namely the female and the larva, are described and illustrated. This study expands current knowledge of the genus' biological diversity and highlights the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches.