The comparative morphology of the thorax of selected genera of the Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera)*

Abstract

The external thoracic morphology of the nymphs and imagos and the thoracic muscles of the imagos of Leptophlebia pacifica are described. Descriptions of the imaginal thoracic exoskeleton are given for five other genera of the Leptophlebiidae. A comparison of homologous structures in the imaginal thoraces of these genera and the use of these structures in understanding the taxonomy and phylogeny of the family are discussed.