A longitudinal study of two species of Belostoma Latreille (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae): allometry and ontogeny

Abstract

Neotropical Entomology 37 (6):662-667 (2008) Estudio Longitudinal en Dos Especies de Belostoma Latreille (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae): Alometría y Ontogenia RESUMEN -Los patrones de crecimiento alométrico de los segmentos del rostro y de las patas de Belostoma elegans (Mayr) y B. cummingsi De Carlo son presentados y comparados por primera vez. Se emplearon datos longitudinales de todos los estadios ninfales en un contexto multivariado. Los segmentos de la pata media y posterior presentan coefi cientes alométricos con polaridad opuesta a los de la pata anterior. Estas diferencias observadas pueden deberse al diferente rol que presentan las patas. La función principal de la pata anterior es la captura de las presas, mientras que las patas media y posterior están adaptadas para la natación. El tamaño relativo de los segmentos del rostro es una característica taxonómica importante en Belostoma. En B. cummingsi el segmento proximal es más largo que el medio, mientras que en B. elegans son subiguales. Nuestro propósito es explicar estas diferencias a través del análisis de las trayectorias ontogéneticas en un intento de aclarar diferencias morfológicas entre especies desde una perspectiva del desarrrollo.PALABRAS-CLAVE: Ninfa, desarrollo postembrionario, insecto acuático, morfometría ABSTRACT -The multivariate allometric growth patterns from longitudinal data of leg and rostral segments of all instars of Belostoma elegans (Mayr) and B. cummingsi De Carlo are presented for the fi rst time, and the allometric coeffi cients are compared. The segments of the middle and hind legs present allometric coeffi cients with opposite polarity to those of forelegs. This discrepancy in the ontogenetic trajectories may be due to the different functions of the legs. The foreleg main function is to capture of the prey, while the middle and hind legs are adapted to swimming. The relative size of rostral segments is an important taxonomic character in Belostoma. In B. cummingsi, the proximal segment is longer than the middle one, while in B. elegans they are subequal. Our purpose is to explain these differences through the analysis of their ontogenetic trajectories in an attempt to illuminate the morphological differences among species from a developmental perspective.

Estimation of Fitness of Normal and Stylopized Paddy Pest, White LeafhopperCofana spectra(Distant) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in West Bengal, India through Correlation of Life History Traits

“…Sexual size dimorphism is also an indicator of genetic variability. 37,43 The difference in the morphological traits was also prominent between normal and infected individuals of C. spectra. For all these traits, the parasitized individuals had a higher value than the normal ones (Fig.…”

Ecology of giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)

“…As a result, the segments of the middle and hind legs present allometric coefficients with opposite polarity to those of forelegs owing to the different functions of the legs; the main function of forelegs is to capture the prey, whereas the middle and hind legs are adapted to swimming (Iglesias et al . ). A similar result was reported in Diplonychus rusticus (Doke et al .…”

Multibiomarker responses in aquatic insect Belostoma elegans (Hemiptera) to organic pollution in freshwater system

“…To evaluate the ecotoxicological action of organic pollution in freshwater systems, we selected the water bug Belostoma elegans Mayr, 1871. This aquatic insect belongs to Belostomatidae family which includes nearly 150 species distributed almost all over the world (Iglesias et al 2008). Belostoma genus is distributed throughout the American continent and it comprises about 60 species.…”