The morphology of mature larvae of Sisyra nigra was studied and documented with a broad spectrum of techniques. Special emphasis is on the cephalic anatomy and on the digestive tract. Cephalic structures are highly modified, with numerous autapomorphic conditions, including a globular head capsule, an extended area with large cornea lenses, a massive tentorium, a strongly developed prepharyngeal pumping apparatus with a horizontal arrangement of dilators, a sharp bend between the prepharynx and pharynx, and an unusual filter apparatus at the entrance of the large crop. The thoracic and abdominal muscle sets, and the legs are largely unmodified. Postcephalic apomorphies are conspicuous tergal setiferous tubercles, trifid setiferous pleural projections, single pretarsal claws, zigzag-shaped abdominal tracheal gills, and a dense vestiture of setae on the terminal abdominal segments. Mandibulo-maxillary stylets curved outwards are an unusual apomorphy also found in the semiaquatic larvae of Osmylidae. Semiaquatic or aquatic habits and secondarily multisegmented antennae are potential synapomorphies of these two groups and Nevrorthidae (Osmyloidea). A sistergroup relationship between Sisyridae and Nevrorthidae suggests that fully aquatic habits of larvae may be a synapomorphy of both families. A specialized terminal antennal seta is a potential groundplan apomorphy of Neuroptera, with secondary loss in Nevrorthidae and Ithonidae + Myrmeleontiformia, respectively. A trumpet-shaped empodium is likely an apomorphy of Neuroptera excluding Coniopterygidae and Osmyloidea, and the secondary loss an apomorphy of Ithonidae on one hand, and Myrmeleontiformia excl. Psychopsidae on the other. K E Y W O R D S larval anatomy, phylogeny, sponges, Spongillaflies
The first fossil remnant of a stratiomyid larva found in the Thuringian quaternary travertine is reported. The fossil is described and classified as belonging to the genus Odontomyia. Remarks on the larval biology of these Stratiomyidae are added.
1. Until now 9 Lonchoptera species have been recorded in the GDR: L. tristis MEIG., L. furcata (FALL.), L. lutea Pz., L. strobli DE MEIJ., L. megerei COLL., L. fallax DE MEIJ., L. nigrociliufa DUDA, L. scutellata STEIN and L. nitidifions STROBL. 2. Large numbers of individuals and many localities exist of the following species: L. tristis, L./urcuta and L. lutea. 3. L. rristis is most abundant in August, whereas L. furcata and L. lufea have been caught especially in September and October. 4. First fully developed oocytes of L. tristis in an small number of females occur as early as June but in z 90% only between August and October.
.The widely distributed L.furcato was found only to be parthenogenetic over the whole area which has been investigated.
6.A key of the known species in the GDR completes the ecofaunistic records.
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