1. Burrowing specializations in a lacewing larva (Neuroptera: Dilaridae)
- Author
-
Andrea Di Giulio, Davide Badano, Horst Aspöck, Ulrike Aspöck, Pierfilippo Cerretti, Badano, D, Di Giulio, A, Aspock, H, Aspock, U, and Cerretti, P
- Subjects
Morphology ,0106 biological sciences ,Dilar ,Larval instars ,Neuropterida ,Postembryonal development ,Soil fauna ,animal structures ,Dilaridae ,010607 zoology ,Zoology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Berothidae ,Life history ,Larva ,biology ,Neuroptera ,fungi ,Fossorial ,Mantispidae ,biology.organism_classification ,Instar ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Neuropterida Dilar Larval instars Morphology Postembryonal development Soil fauna - Abstract
Dilaridae are an ancient relict lineage of lacewings, whose life history is poorly known. We investigated the external morphology of the first and second instar larvae of Dilar duelli Aspock U. and Aspock H., 1995, based on reared and collected specimens by means of scanning electron microscopy. Larvae of Dilar are characterized by straight mandibulo-maxillary stylets, strengthened antennae and palps, absence of stemmata, robust prothoracic legs with asymmetrical pretarsal claws, greatly elongate and cylindrical abdomen, and large pygopods, all of these features appear to be adaptations to fossorial habits, allowing the larvae to move in the soil. Dilar undergoes drastic developmental changes between larval instars, changing from minute, stout first instars to long, slender third instars, characterized by an overly developed abdomen. Larvae of Dilaridae share several morphological and developmental features with Mantispidae and Berothidae, although phylogenetic evidence suggests that these traits arose independently in association with similar life habits.
- Published
- 2021