Porrostoma rhipidium (W. MacLeay, 1827)

BOCAK, L. & MATSUDA, K., 2003, Review of the immature stages of the family Lycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Journal of Natural History 37 (12), pp. 1463-1507 : 1499-1500

Porrostoma rhipidium (W. MacLeay, 1827)

Diagnosis. Robust, wide body and undivided tergum A9 distinguish P. rhipidium from P. haemorrhoidale , which has very similar shape of the meso- and metasterna.

Description of mature larva. Body robust, nearly oval, widest at base of abdomen, strongly flattened dorsoventrally, strongly sclerotized, segmental membranes very narrow. Sclerites dark brown to black, their surface finely tuberculate, prosternum and trochanters light brown to ochre, membranes light brown, longitudinal membrane between thoracic and abdominal tergites partly sclerotized. Thoracic membranes smooth, abdominal membranes apparently tuberculate. Lateral parts of epicranium almost membranous in posterior two thirds, separating partly dorsal and ventral plates. Apical half of palpifer completely sclerotized. Mala with two setae. Terga T1–T3 and A1–A8 apparently divided by median line in two tergites; membrane partly sclerotized and well pigmented, differing in structure and bordered by line of small tubercles at inner margins of tergites. Tergites T1–T3 and A1–A8 with two (T1) or four (remaining ones) posterior processes (figures 109, 111). Meso- and metasternum weakly sclerotized, but extensive (figure 116). Spiracular plate with small, single, weakly sclerotized and pigmented tubercle behind middle. Spiracle anteriorly tubercle. Abdominal spiracular plates of A1–A8 with yellowish, finger like tubercles. Spiracles subapical, in frontoventral part of tubercle. Tergum A9 entire, emarginate at apex, with very short urogomphi (figure 112).

Measurements. Mature larva. BL 16.5–20.3 mm, PL 2.1–2.6 mm, PW 3.3–4.6 mm, width of A4 5.9–7.9 mm.

Pupa. Exarate, pronotum with four, long tubercles at frontal margin and single, long tubercle at each posterolateral angle. Spiracles T2 and A1–A8 located at apex of long slender tubercle. Tubercle T2 simple, tubercles A1–A8 Y-shaped, spiracle at upper process. Abdominal terga with four slender processes at posterior margin, corresponding with those found in larvae (figures 109, 111), urogomphi short, slender.

Material examined. Australia, Tugrong, 21.x.1971, under stone, two mature larvae, three pupae, one adult, bred in laboratory ( CSIRO) ; NSW, Warrumbungle, 4.xi.1982, one larva, one pupa, two adults ( CSIRO) ; Australia, ACT, vii.1973, K. Oswald, six larvae, one adult ( CSIRO) ; Canberra ACT, coll. under Euc. bark, iii.1989, one larva, one pupa, two adults, reared from larvae, adult ix.1989, C. Reid ( CSIRO) .

Ecdysis. The last larval instar and pupal exuviae were available. The cuticle of the larval head remained entire. The head was withdrawn from the cuticle through the connection between the head and thorax. The thoracic and abdominal segments shed the cuticle after a rupture of the lateral part. The tergites remained firmly connected. The pupal cuticle of the head ruptured along the longitudinal line from the clypeus to the vertex and further along the median longitudinal ecdysial line on the thorax. The cuticle of the abdomen is much softer than the thoracic cuticle and remained partly undamaged and firmly attached to the abdominal segments.