Psammoecus hiranoi Yoshida & Hirowatari, 2013

Yoshida, Takahiro & Hirowatari, Toshiya, 2015, Larval and pupal morphology of three species of the genus Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera: Silvanidae: Brontinae) in Japan with reference to the number of larval instars, Zootaxa 3937 (1), pp. 90-102 : 98-99

Psammoecus hiranoi Yoshida & Hirowatari, 2013

[Japanese name: Herimon-semaru-hiratamushi] ( Fig. 8 )

Identification. The examined larvae were collected from a dead branch with adults of P. hiranoi and no other Coleopteran species were collected from this dead branch.

Last instar larva. Head capsule width: 0.65 mm (n=1).

Body ( Fig. 8 A). Translucent, 1st and 2nd antennomeres except apex of 2nd, apices and molae of mandibles and region containing gut darkened.

Head ( Fig. 8 A–G). Transversely oblong. Frontal arms U-shaped ( Fig. 8 B), elongate; 1st antennomere comparatively elongate; 2nd antennomere more than twice longer than 1st, maximum width at anterior 1/4, gradually thickening anteriorly, sensorium around apex of inner margin short and thick; 3rd antennomere thin, comparatively short but longer than 1st, a short seta on apex ( Fig. 8 C). Mandibles triangular, with three teeth on the apex of right mandible, with three closely spaced teeth and a protuberance on the apex of left mandible; a prostheca on inner margin of anterior 1/4, narrowing around apex immediately; molae with many small strong cuticular spines, base of inner margin of left mandible slightly protruded with a few fine cuticular spines ( Fig. 8 D, E). Maxilla longitudinally oblong, comparatively narrow, stipes dorsally with many very small spines on middle transverse area, with three long teeth near apex ventrally, inner margin of mala with relatively long setae in a longitudinal row; maxillary palpus with three palpomeres, 1st palpomere short, 2nd less than twice longer than 1st, 3rd twice longer than 2nd with a few small spines ( Fig. 8 F). Six stemmata on each side ( Fig. 8 B).

Thorax and abdomen ( Fig. 8 A, I). Shape easily deformed according to posture. Prothorax subquadrate, maximum width around anterior margin; meso- and metathorax transverse, maximum width around in basal half; 1st and 2nd abdominal segments short, 3rd to 8th subquadrate, 9th absent, 10th elongate. A pair of long fine lateral setae and some medium length and short setae on thorax and 3rd to 8th segments, a pair of long setae positioned in each maximum width of segment, no long setae on 1st and 2nd segments, short sparse pubescence on 10th. Legs elongate; trochanter triangular, with a few short to medium length setae; femur with a long seta and some short to medium length very sparse setae; tibiotarsus thin, with some short to medium length sparse setae; claw less than 0.5 times as long as tibiotarsus, with two short setae.

Specimens examined. Slide preparation of one specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Psammoecus hiranoi Yoshida & Hirowatari, last instar. A, Habitus; B, head, dorsal view; C, right antenna, dorsal view; D, right mandible, ventral view; E, left mandible, ventral view; F, right maxilla, dorsal view; G, labium, ventral view; H, left foreleg, dorsal view; I, 8 th and 10 th abdominal segments, dorsal view. Scales: a = 1.0 mm, b – d = 0.1 mm; a for A; b for B, H and I; c for C; d for D – G.