Larval-morphology
Guides
Ardistomina
Ardistomina is a subtribe of ground beetles (Carabidae: Clivinini) containing three genera in North America: Aspidoglossa, Semiardistomis, and Ardistomis. Five species occur north of Mexico. Larval morphology has been described based on first-instar Semiardistomis viridis, representing the first larval character states documented for the subtribe. The subtribe was historically confused with related taxa, necessitating taxonomic revisions to clarify generic boundaries.
Attenella margarita
spiny crawler mayfly
Attenella margarita is a species of spiny crawler mayfly in the family Ephemerellidae. It exhibits a disjunct east-west distribution pattern across North America, which is rare among mayflies. The species has been documented from the southern half of Canada and the continental United States, with a southeastern range extension to North Carolina representing approximately 1,300 km beyond previously known western localities.
Belonopterygini
Ant-loving Lacewings
Belonopterygini is a tribe of green lacewings within the family Chrysopidae, commonly known as Ant-loving Lacewings. Members of this tribe exhibit myrmecophilous associations, with larvae living in arboreal ant nests. Larvae possess distinctive morphological adaptations that appear to defend them against ant aggression. The tribe includes at least the genus Italochrysa, with species documented from Australia and Europe.
Chaetarthriinae
Chaetarthriinae is a subfamily of aquatic beetles in the family Hydrophilidae, containing 92 species in 8 genera. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Chaetarthriini and Anacaenini. Larvae exhibit morphological diversity reflecting adaptation to varied environments. Phylogenetic analyses based on larval characters have not recovered the subfamily as monophyletic, with Chaetarthria diverging early due to unique modifications associated with riparian habitats.
Cionini
Cionini is a tribe of weevils (Curculionidae: Curculioninae) distributed across the Palaearctic region. The tribe includes at least two well-studied genera, Cionus and Stereonychus, with 61 species currently recognized in Cionus alone. Larvae of this tribe exhibit distinctive morphological features that distinguish them from related groups, including reduced numbers of cranial and epipharyngeal setae, one-segmented labial palpi, absent labral rods, and swollen pedal lobes. Members are primarily associated with plants in the family Scrophulariaceae.
Cionus
Target Weevils
Cionus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, tribe Cionini, established by Clairville in 1798. The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions, with over 100 recognized species including 61 Palaearctic and 52 Afrotropical species. Several species are associated with plants in the family Scrophulariaceae, particularly genera Scrophularia and Verbascum.
Ctenodactylini
Ctenodactylini is a tribe of ground beetles (Carabidae: Ctenodactylinae) first characterized based on larval morphology. Larval character states shared between Askalaphium depressum and Leptotrachelus dorsalis form the basis for tribal diagnosis. Members occupy specialized microhabitats, with documented species living commensally in leaf axils of riparian plants.
Cybistrinae
Cybistrinae is a subfamily of predaceous diving beetles within Dytiscidae, comprising 12 genera and approximately 130 described extant species. Members are large-bodied aquatic beetles distributed across multiple continents, with notable diversity in the Neotropical region and Japan. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive larval and adult morphological features, including specialized tarsal structures and genitalia. Several species are of conservation concern, including critically endangered populations in Japan.
Dinaraea aequata
Dinaraea aequata is a small rove beetle (2.5–3.7 mm) in the subfamily Aleocharinae, native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is saproxylic, inhabiting subcortical galleries of decaying wood and fungal fruiting bodies. The species was among the first in its genus to have its larval morphology and life history described in detail, including all three instars, prepupa, and pupal cocoon.
Dirhagini
Dirhagini is a tribe of false click beetles within the family Eucnemidae, subfamily Melasinae. The tribe is distributed across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Recent taxonomic work has clarified nomenclature and species boundaries, including descriptions of new species from the Russian Far East and redescriptions of poorly known taxa. Members of this tribe are characterized by specific larval morphological traits that distinguish them from other Eucnemidae.
Eutrichosoma mirabile
Eutrichosoma mirabile is a parasitoid wasp in the family Eutrichosomatidae (Chalcidoidea) that attacks weevil larvae. The species possesses planidial larvae—mobile, morphologically specialized first-instar larvae with a cranial spine, tubercles, and cerci that actively seek and attach to host weevil larvae. Eggs are small and stalked, laid directly on top of host eggs within seed pods of whitethorn acacia. This species has been collected in southeastern Arizona and is documented from multiple U.S. states including District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, and Maryland.
Gabrius splendidulus
A predatory rove beetle in the subtribe Philonthina, Gabrius splendidulus occurs primarily in Europe and western Russia, with introduced populations in North America. The species develops in subcortical habitats, specifically within bark beetle galleries. Mature larvae have been re-described using light and scanning electron microscopy, with diagnostic characters established to distinguish them from other Philonthina genera.
Heterocampa obliqua
oblique heterocampa, oblique prominent
Heterocampa obliqua is a species of prominent moth in the family Notodontidae, first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. It is found throughout North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 7983. Larvae have been subjects of morphological study comparing their mouthpart structure and feeding behaviors with other notodontid species.
Megatoma
Megatoma is a genus of dermestid beetles (family Dermestidae) distributed across the Palearctic, Near East, and Nearctic regions. The genus contains approximately 23 described species, including the well-studied Megatoma undata (Linnaeus, 1758). Species within this genus are associated with stored products and natural habitats where they feed on dried organic matter. Larval stages have been documented in detail for some species, showing characteristic dermestid morphology with specialized setae.
Pedilus flabellatus
A fire-colored beetle species in the family Pyrochroidae. The mature larva has been described and exhibits a unique morphological trait: an uninterrupted transverse series of asperities on sternum 9, which is not found in other Pedilus larvae. This character supports the subfamily classification of Pedilinae within Pyrochroidae.
Pseudomedon
Pseudomedon is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subtribe Medonina, established by Mulsant & Rey in 1878. The genus contains approximately 23 species distributed across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. Larval morphology has been described for at least one species, revealing two instars with distinctive anatomical features. Adults are rarely encountered in Europe and often require male genitalia analysis for accurate species identification.
Sepedophilus testaceus
Sepedophilus testaceus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) originally described from Europe and now established in North America as an introduced species. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with several previously described North American species (imbricatus, limuloides, elongatus) synonymized under this name. Larvae possess specialized morphological adaptations on the posterior abdomen that facilitate prey capture. Adults are associated with decaying organic matter and fungal habitats.
Tychius
leguminous seed weevils
Tychius is a large genus of weevils (Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Tychiini) containing over 630 described species. The genus is distributed across the Palearctic (approximately 240 species), Afrotropical (45 species, mainly South Africa), Nearctic, and Oriental regions. All species with documented biology are associated with legume host plants in the subfamily Papilionoideae (Fabaceae), particularly tribes Genisteae, Loteae, Galegeae, Trifolieae, and Vicieae. Several species have been introduced from Europe to North America, where they feed on introduced and native legumes.
Ulomini
darkling beetles
Ulomini is a tribe of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) established by Blanchard in 1845. The tribe contains more than 20 genera, including the large genus Uloma with over 200 species and subspecies worldwide. Members are primarily associated with forest habitats and decaying wood. Larval stages of several species have been described, showing oligopod morphology with diagnostic abdominal segment features.