Larval morphology of Yateberosus, a New Caledonian endemic subgenus of Laccobius (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), with notes on ‘Berosus-like’ larvae in Hydrophiloidea
Fikáček M., Minoshima Y. N., Jäch M. A.
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58(1): 195-206, 2018
Published online: 25th June 2018
Published in print: 15th August 2018
Views: 1348
Abstract: The morphology and head chaetotaxy of the second and third instar larvae of
Laccobius (Yateberosus) sp. are described based on specimens collected in New
Caledonia. The larvae agree with those of other subgenera of Laccobius Erichson,
1837 in most morphological characters including the morphology of head and
mouthparts and the head chaetotaxy, which undoubtedly supports its assignment to
Laccobius (Yateberosus). It differs from other Laccobius in the closed
spiracular system, reduced spiracular atrium and long abdominal tracheal gills,
in which they resemble the larvae of Berosus Leach, 1817. We demonstrate that
the ‘Berosus-likeʼ larval morphology evolved at least four times
independently in Hydrophiloidea, and briefly discuss the possible reasons
for it.
Key words: Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Hydrophilinae, Laccobiini, larval morphology, parallel evolution, New Caledonia, Pacific Region