Oedopeza umbrosa (Germar, 1823)

Oedopeza umbrosa (Germar, 1823) View in CoL

( Figs 27–50 View FIGURES 27–39 View FIGURES 40–50 )

Description

Larva ( Figs 27–47 View FIGURES 27–39 View FIGURES 40–50 ). Length: ca. 20 mm.

Body soft, smooth, yellowish white, subcylindrical, slightly depressed dorsoventrally; mesothorax and abdominal segments VII–IX wider. Head yellowish on distal third, with brown mouth frame and black mandibles; labrum yellowish; maxillae and labium membranous, partially brown; basal region of clypeus and maxillolabial complex yellowish. Pubescence long, yellowish, more concentrate on prothorax, dorsally on anterior region and ventrally (except mediopresternum), and laterally on meso-, metathorax, and all abdominal segments, including abdominal apex.

Head ( Figs 27, 28 View FIGURES 27–39 ) moderately convex, deeply retracted into prothorax, only anterior third exposed, longer than wide, slightly narrowed laterally near middle, converging and strongly rounded posteriorly. Median frontal endocarina short, not reaching epistomal margin; dorsomedian cranial duplicature visible. Frontal sutures visible lateroanteriorly; antennal ring bisected by anterior end of frontal lines. Epistomal margin almost straight; frons anteriorly with transverse carina, parallel epistomal margin; anterior fourth of cephalic capsule with sunken sensilla; three pairs of epistomal setae: one pair at middle and one pair (setae close each other) on each side, near each epistomal lobe; dorsally, each side with three long anterior frontal setae, and six short epicranial setae. Ventrally, each side with six lateral setae, below each stemma, and three hypostomal setae. Stemmata present, one on each side. Foramen entire. Hypostomal line elongate, not reaching foramen. Gular line present with three anterior setae on each side and two anteriorly on each side of gular area. Gular area with sunken sensilla. Antennae ( Figs 31, 32 View FIGURES 27–39 ) short, robust, extensible, slightly sclerotized with three antennomeres; antennifer long and membranous; first antennomere slightly wider than long, with one ventral campaniform sensillum; second, narrower than anterior, transverse, with two short ventral and one dorsal setae; apically, with one cupuliform membranous sensorium and distal antennomere; distal antennomere narrow, slightly longer than membranous sensorium, almost as long as wide, with rounded apex; apically with five thick setae (two longer) and three short, membranous sensoria. Clypeus ( Fig. 29 View FIGURES 27–39 ) transverse, trapezoidal and membranous. Labrum ( Fig. 29 View FIGURES 27–39 ) slightly shorter than clypeus, wider than long, widely rounded; thick setae more concentrated on distal third (six longer). Epipharynx ( Fig. 30 View FIGURES 27–39 ) densely covered with thick setae directed medially; basal region with short microspines and campaniform sensilla distributed into irregular bands near middle; one sclerite on each side on basal half (tormae). Mandibles ( Figs 40–47 View FIGURES 40–50 ) strongly sclerotized, wide, symmetrical; distal margin widely rounded and declivous; one dorsal, weak, rounded subapical lobe; mesal area without striae; external face concave, striate and with two setae near base. Maxillolabial complex ( Figs 28, 34 View FIGURES 27–39 ) partially membranous; submentum maxillary articulating areas and cardines fused; each maxillary articulating area with about four setae (one longer). Distal part of maxilla: stipes with brownish, sclerotized, transverse, inclined band; long setae forming an irregular row above sclerotized band; mala wider and shorter than palpus, with rounded apex, triangular sclerotized band near base and numerous long, stick apical setae, dorsally and ventrally. Palpifer membranous, sclerotized on basal 2/3, ventrally with long setae concentrated near apex and dorsally near internal margin. Maxillary palpi ( Figs 34, 36, 37 View FIGURES 27–39 ) trimerous, with complete rings pigmented; first palpomere elongate, ventrally with four moderately long setae and dorsally with six setae; second palpomere almost as long as wide, ventrally ( Figs 37 View FIGURES 27–39 ) with about seven setae near apex (two longer), and dorsally ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 27–39 ) with one long seta and one campaniform sensillum; distal palpomere dorsally with one campaniform sensillum and numerous peg-shaped sensoria at apex. Distal labium: mentum wider than long; each side with three setae near middle. Prelabium well separated; prementum narrowed basally and sclerotized on basal half; membranous area, including papiger, prominent and rounded laterally, with many thick and long thick setae; ligula wide, prominent with rounded apex, with many thick and long setae; palpiger with many setae of varied sizes. Labial palpi dimerous; palpomeres elongate, with complete rings pigmented; first palpomere dorsally ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 27–39 ) with one long seta, and ventrally ( Fig. 38 View FIGURES 27–39 ) with three to four setae on each side and two campaniform sensilla; distal palpomere narrower, with one dorsal campaniform sensillum and numerous peg-shaped sensilla apically; digitiform sensillum absent. Hypopharynx ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 27–39 ) continuous with distal margin of ligula, soft and swollen, especially at middle, parallel anterior margin; partially covered with long setae, except median region; slightly sclerotized longitudinal medially.

Prothorax, widest segment, longer than twice meso- and metathorax combined; slightly narrowed anteriorly; dorsally with narrow anterior yellowish band; basal ¾ of pronotum rugulose; ventrally with one yellowish patch on each epipleurum. Meso- and metathorax, dorsally and ventrally with two transverse rows of moniliform tubercles. Mesothorax anteriorly with one large elliptical spiracle ( Fig. 33 View FIGURES 27–39 ), with many marginal chambers on both margins.

Abdominal segments I–VII with dorsal and ventral ambulatory ampullae more or less retractile, narrower and longer than thoracic. Ampullae with moniliform tubercles. Segments I–VI dorsally and ventrally with ampullae, each with four transverse rows of moniliform tubercles; segments VII–IX wider; VIII–IX transverse, without ampullae; VIII longer than IX; ampullae narrower and longer toward apex. Epipleural tubercles oval, each with two setae and two sclerotized pits, similar in size. Segments I–VIII with lateral elliptical spiracle. Segment IX without sclerotization; X narrower and rounded with trilobed apex. Dorsal and ventral abdominal intersegmental zones do not meet each other and overlap.

Pupa (male) ( Figs 48, 49 View FIGURES 40–50 ). Length: 15 mm.

Coloration cream, darker after fixation. Pubescence very fine and long; each seta inserted at base of one well-visible sclerotized spine of varied sizes; spines increasing in size toward body apex. Head partially visible from above. Each antenna with four setigerous spines at base and two above; two setigerous spines on each internal margin of eyes; six setigerous spines in a basal row at clypeus; each mandible with two setae (spines not visible); labrum with two long setae (spines not visible) near base and some very short at apex. Antennae separately looped back, loop longer than elytra, surpassing ventrite III.

Pronotum wider than long and trapezoidal; each side with a triangular tubercle with one basal setigerous spine; a median longitudinal groove; each side of groove with a group of 4–5 setigerous spines near base, one group of about 12 setigerous spines just below, and another group with 3–5 near middle; at base, some smaller setigerous spines on each side. Mesonotum: each side with one setigerous spine near anterior margin and 4–5 setigerous spines on each side. Metanotum with 7–8 setigerous spines on each side. Each femur with a crown of setigerous spines near apex.

Abdominal segments I–II dorsally, each with two well-developed patches of setigerous spines; segments III–VI, each with one smaller patch anteriorly (sometimes divided) and two wider patches posteriorly; segment VII longer, gradually narrowing apicad, with one patch of setigerous spines near base and one longitudinal band of spines distributed on distal half; segment VIII transverse with sides rounded, surrounding apex of VII, with six setigerous spines on each side; segment IX transverse, sub-rectangular, narrower than anterior, with two spines at apex and one terminal spine on each distal angle (left side with addition of one shorter spine). Six pair of well-visible spiracles.

Material examined. BRAZIL. São Paulo: São Paulo ( Parque Estadual da Cantareira ), 18.X.1988, Exp. BIZ721, 3 dead and fixed larvae and 2 pupae (same sex) with last larval exuviae ( MZSP 8663 View Materials ) .

Remarks. Larva of Oedopeza umbrosa is characterized especially by epicranial sutures visible laterally, stemmata present, antennae with three antennomeres, ambulatory ampullae with moniliform glabrous tubercles, and the tergite IX without sclerotization. Each pair of epistomal setae almost equidistant: one pair at middle and one pair (close each other) on each side, near each epistomal lobe. Furthermore, the epistomal margin is almost straight, preceded by parallel carina, and basal ¾ of pronotum rugulose.

According to Duffy (1960) the larvae of Oedopeza ocellator and O. setigera have a sclerotized process on tergite IX, not observed in O. umbrosa . Duffy did not describe that process in the former species, but stated: “similar to that of Eutrypanus incertus Bates , but differing in the structure of the sclerotized process on tergite 9”. Eutrypanus incertus Bates, 1864 (currently, Neoeutrypanus incertus ) has a transverse elliptical plate on tergite IX. He defined O. setigera as having “subvertical, keel-shaped, sclerotized process”, which in his fig. 144, it looks like a prominent narrow sclerotized tubercle; also described the abdominal ampullae of this species as non-tuberculate and microspiculate. Oedopeza fleutiauxi , also has a small transverse sclerotized plate.

Comparing the larva of O. fleutiauxi with O. umbrosa , it is verified the following differences ( O. umbrosa between parenthesis): basal half of the dorsal head with one longitudinal curved carina on each side (carinae absent); epicranial suture indistinct (visible laterally); pronotum microspiculate (without microspicules); antennae with two antennomeres (three antennomeres); tergite IX with sclerotized tergite (sclerotization lacking); abdominal ampullae microspiculated (with moniliform glabrous tubercles); and the mandible with one dorsal subapical rounded tooth (one dorsal weak rounded subapical tooth). The teeth of mandibles are very difficult to evaluate because they suffer attrition. Even defining whether they are symmetric or asymmetric is not easy; sometimes, the left and right mandibles are a little different, considered here as symmetric and outworn.