Figs 6, 87–89

Ecnomina spinosa Kimmins in Mosely and Kimmins, 1953: 382, fig. 262. – Neboiss 1986: 152.

Diagnosis. Ecnomina spinosa closely resembles E. gullea and E. legula with relatively long mesally directed digitiform projections on the inferior appendages and superior appendages with apices narrowly separated, but is distinguished by possessing about six robust ventrally directed bristles or spines on lateral processes of segment IX and relatively slender inferior appendages, in lateral view.

Description. (Revised after Kimmins in Mosely and Kimmins, 1953). Head, body and wings light brown; wings (Mosely and Kimmins 1953, fig. 262a) similar to E. legula (Fig. 3). Forewing length about 2.9 times width: male 5.4–5.7 mm. Forewing fork 2 relatively long, sessile, length about 1.1–1.2 times length of fork 3; fork 3 relatively long, with very short footstalk, length fork greater than 9 times length footstalk, footstalk length about 0.8 times length cross-vein m, r-m and m not contiguous at fork 3 by about 0.7 times length cross-vein m; fork 4 shorter than fork 3; fork 5 long, length about 1.8 times length of fork 4. Hindwing length about 2.9 times width, fork 2 sessile, length about 1.5–1.6 times length of fork 3.

Male. Segment IX with a pair of long lateral processes with about six ventrally directed, relatively long bristles or spines (Fig. 87). Tergum X membranous (Fig. 89). Superior appendages in lateral view, length about 3 times width, tapered in apical third (Fig. 87); in dorsal view, broad based, narrowly separated mesally, relatively slender in distal half, apices narrowly separated (Fig. 89); with a few stout spines baso-ventral to base of superior appendages. Phallus generally tube-like, slender, slightly dilated distally (Fig. 87). Inferior appendages in ventral view, fused basally, narrowly separated in distal half, medium length mesally pointed apices distally (Fig. 88); in lateral view, length about twice width, with short pointed apices (Fig. 87).

Female. Unknown.

Type material (not seen). Holotype male, New South Wales, Wentworth Park, Wentworth Falls, 23 Nov 1916, R. J. Tillyard. (BMNH).

Material examined: 1 male (specimen PT-1160 figured), Wentworth Falls, 23 Dec 1977, A.N. (NMV).

Remarks. Ecnomina spinosa appears to be restricted in distribution and probably is rare as only two males have been collected from near the type locality (latitude 33°43'S). Kimmins’ (in Mosely and Kimmins 1953) figures have been redrawn to allow direct comparisons and to accompany the description that is revised in light of new interpretations of Ecnomina genitalic and wing structures.