Three new species in the endemic New Zealand genus Alloecentrella (Trichoptera), and a re-evaluation of its family placement.

Three new species of caddis in the endemic New Zealand genus Alloecentrella Wise, 1958 (Trichoptera: Sericostomatoidea) are named and described: A. linearis sp. n., A. cirratus sp. n., and A. incisus sp. n. We report the known distribution of each of the four species in the genus; A. magnicornis and A. incisus appear to be found only in North Island; A. linearis and A. cirratus have been recorded only from South Island. We provide characters to differentiate the larvae (extent of the head carina; the shape of the head capsule in lateral profile) and cases (position of the terminal aperture). We present the results of a phylogenetic analysis of larval, pupal and adult morphological characters which places Alloecentrella in the Helicophidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]