Larvae of northern European Hydroporus(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

• Published in: Systematic Entomology
• Main Author: NILSSON, ANDERS N.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1989
• Subjects: Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1989.tb00267.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-3113.1989.tb00267.x; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1989.tb00267.x/fullpdf

Abstract A key is presented to the third‐instar larvae of twenty‐seven northern European species of Hydroporus Clairville. Based on reared specimens from northern Sweden, the third‐instar larva is described for the first time for seven species: H.neglectus Schaum, H.scalesianus Stephens, H.acutangulus Thomson, H.glabriusculus Aubé, H.puberulus LeConte, H.tristis (Paykull) and H.incognitus Sharp. In the descriptions leg chaetotaxy is emphasized and a distinction is made between primary and secondary setae. Plesiomorphic and apomorphic states are determined for a set of twelve larval characters, and their distribution among the twenty‐seven known species is given. Character distribution is analysed with respect to the phylogenetic status of some subgenera, and it is concluded that both Sternoporus Falkenström and Hydroporinus Guignot are junior subjective synonyms of Hydroporus (s.str.). Larval characters are presented also for a selection of some other hydroporine species and their phylogeny is discussed. With respect to larval morphology, Hydroporus is seemingly the most primitive genus of the European Hydroporini, with H.neglectus and H.scalesianus as its most primitive species. The genus Metaporus Guignot is identified as the probable sister‐group of Hydroporus .