The larva of Mecistogaster linearis, with notes on its abundance in lowland rainforest of Costa Rica (Odonata: Pseudostigmatidae)

Göran Sahléna,b, Ingemar Hedströmc

  1. Ecology and Environmental Science, School of Business and Engineering, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
  2. Systematic Zoology, Evolutionary Biology Centre , Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  3. Boston University, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston, USA

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pages 59-66, 2005
https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2005.9748243
Published: 1 April 2005 (Received: 17 August 2004, Accepted: 1 December 2004)

Abstract

The larva of Mecistogaster linearis is described and illustrated from specimens collected within or near the Río Dantas Wildlife Refuge at the north-western border of the Barbilla National Park on the Costa Rican Caribbean slope. Characters of F-0 larvae permit easy separation from Megaloprepus caerulatus, a species coexisting with M. linearis. Diagnostic characters include overall colour, shape of head, prementum and caudal gills. Exuviae may be determined using shape of mandibles. Two types of branched setae are present on tibiae and tarsi. Most are 3-branched but on front tarsi they are instead feather-shaped. It is suggested that these setae are used for eye-cleaning. M. linearis was a relatively rare but regularly occurring species in the study area throughout the 3-year study period.

Keywords: Odonata, dragonfly, Zygoptera, Pseudostigmatidae, species description, branched setae, Costa Rica

Issue section: Article