Alloecentrella magnicornis

The holotype of the species was originally collected in the Waitākere Township area in 1934, and is housed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/record/176495 |title=Alloecentrella magnicornis |website=Auckland War Memorial Museum |access-date=25 July 2024}} Alloecentrella magnicornis was not recognised as a distinct species until 1958. Wise created the genus Alloecentrella due to morphological differences found in Alloecentrella magnicornis not seen in other New Zealand caddisflies.{{Cite Q|Q58676764}} The genus was monotypic until 2007.{{cite web|url=https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/scientific-names/fc671945-0804-455d-8bde-d4a0a2c7c758 |title=Alloecentrella cirratus Henderson & Ward, 2007 |website=Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research |access-date=23 July 2024}}

Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Alloecentrella magnicornis forms a clade with Pycnocentrella eurensis, and is more distantly related to Pycnocentria species, Beraeoptera roria, Confluens hamiltoni, Pycnocentrodes aureolus and species of Olinga.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1080/00288330.2009.9626536| issn = 0028-8330| volume = 43| issue = 5| pages = 1137–1146| last1 = Hogg| first1 = Ian D| last2 = Smith| first2 = Brian J| last3 = Banks| first3 = Jonathan C| last4 = Dewaard| first4 = Jeremy R| last5 = Hebert| first5 = Paul DN| title = Testing use of mitochondrial COI sequences for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand caddisflies (Trichoptera)| journal = New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research| date = 2009| bibcode = 2009NZJMF..43.1137H| hdl = 10289/3545| hdl-access = free}}

Wise's original text (the type description) reads as follows:

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HEAD. Below and behind each eye an elongate wart with black hairs. A wart bearing long blackish setae behind each antenna. A wart bearing a short brush tuft of fuscous hairs in front of each antenna and between these a similar brush tuft of fuscous hairs arises. ANTENNAE. First joint slightly longer than head with moderately long fuscous and fulvous hairs. Remaining joints with ochreous hairs—not annulated. MAXILLARY PALPI five-jointed, the two short basal joints with moderately long ochreous hairs, apical joints with short ochreous pubescence. THORAX black, shining. WINGS, Hairs of both wings uniform fuscous—no pattern. ABDOMEN blackish, each tergite pale posteriorly. Length of anterior wing, {{cvt|5|mm}}.

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The larvae of the species has a frontoclypeus with lateral margins.

Alloecentrella magnicornis feeds on liverworts and mosses.

The species is endemic to New Zealand, known to occur on the North Island.{{Cite journal| issn = 0165-0424| volume = 29| issue = 2| pages = 79–96| last1 = Henderson| first1 = Ian M| last2 = Ward| first2 = John B| title = Three new species in the endemic New Zealand genus Alloecentrella (Trichoptera), and a re-evaluation of its family placement| journal = Aquatic Insects| date = 2007 |doi=10.1080/01650420701381155| bibcode = 2007AqIns..29...79H}} It is one of two Alloecentrella caddisflies known to occur on the North Island, alongside Alloecentrella incisus.

Alloecentrella magnicornis is often found in swift-flowing streams in the upper North Island, typically in forested areas where rock substrates allow liverworts and mosses to grow.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1080/03014223.1978.10423816| issn = 0301-4223| volume = 5| issue = 4| pages = 639–750| last = Cowley| first = DR| title = Studies on the larvae of New Zealand Trichoptera| journal = New Zealand Journal of Zoology| date = 1978}}

Adults and larvae of the species are known to be present from October to late February.

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Category:Animals described in 1958

Category:Endemic insects of New Zealand

Category:Integripalpia

Category:Taxa named by Keith Arthur John Wise

Category:Trichoptera of New Zealand