|
|||||
|
|
Characterization and mapping of sensilla on the head appendages of noterid larvae (Coleoptera: Noteridae), and development of a preliminary biometric method for taxa delimitation |
|
| Authors: | Juan I Urcola Cesar J Benetti Yves Alarie Georgina Rodriguez Mariano C Michat |
| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Biodiversity and Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Entomology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Visualization, Writing - original draft;2. Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia (PPGEnt), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Manaus, Brazil Contribution: Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing - review & editing;3. Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Contribution: Investigation, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing - review & editing;4. CONICET-University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Biodiversity and Experimental and Applied Biology, Buenos Aires, Argentina;5. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Biodiversity and Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Entomology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina CONICET-University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Biodiversity and Experimental and Applied Biology, Buenos Aires, Argentina Contribution: Data curation, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing - review & editing |
| Abstract: | Larvae of the burrowing water beetle family Noteridae are distributed worldwide and are often abundant in a broad range of aquatic habitats, playing an important role in structuring freshwater communities, yet they have remained among the most poorly studied groups of aquatic beetles. Studies on sensillar equipment of aquatic insect larvae are largely lacking, despite their potential use in phylogeny and biometric identification methods. In this article, the external morphology and distribution of sensilla on the head appendages of first instar larvae of selected genera of Noteridae were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Seven main types were distinguished based on their morphological structure: basiconica (3 subtypes), campaniformia (2 subtypes), chaetica (7 subtypes), coeloconica (6 subtypes), coniform complex (2 subtypes), placodea, and styloconica (3 subtypes). The apex of the labial palpus was found to be the most variable and informative region in regard to the number, relative position, and topology of sensilla. Fingerprint models were, therefore, generated for this region in each of the studied genera, allowing their identification. |
| Keywords: | antenna burrowing water beetle micromorphology mouthparts SEM |