Immature stages of the tiger beetle Cylindera (Plectographa) apiata apiata (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) and analysis of primary chaetotaxy

Abstract: The larval instars and pupa of Cylindera (Plectographa) apiata apiata (Dejean, 1825) are redescribed and illustrated, including morphometric and chaetotaxic characters. The larval ground pattern for the chaetotaxic characters is presented, based on instar I larva of C. apiata apiata. For chaetotaxic homologization, comparisons with other adephagan families were performed. The primary chaetotaxy of cicindelid larvae is very similar to that described for Carabidae, and both are distinguished from the aquatic adephagan families by the presence of seta TR8 and pore COb; additionally, they are characterized by the presence of long setae on the apices of the antenna (setae AN4–6) and galea (MX8–9). On the other hand, Cicindelidae differ from Carabidae in the presence of setae PA20–22 on the parietal and setae FE7–8 on the femur, the absence of pores COc–e on the coxa, and by having a single seta on the pretarsus, a condition unique to Cicindelidae. The habitat where both adults and larvae of C. apiata apiata were collected is described and illustrated, and the phenology of the species is briefly discussed.

Key words: Coleoptera, Adephaga, Cicindelidae, ground plan, larva, morphometry, pupa, sensilla, taxonomy, tiger beetles, Argentina, Neotropical Region