Comparative study of head structures of larvae of Sphindidae and Protocucujidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

Abstract

Abstract. Selected representatives of Cucujoidea, Cleroidea, Tenebrionoidea, Chrysomelidae, and Lymexylidae were examined. External and internal head structures of larvae of Sphindus americanus and Ericmodes spp. are described in detail. The data were analyzed cladistically. A sister group relationship between Sphindidae and Protocucujidae is suggested by the vertical position of the labrum. The monophyly of Cucujiformia is supported by the reduced dorsal and anterior tentorial arms, fusion of galea and lacinia, and the presence of tube-like salivary glands. Absence of M. tentoriopraementalis inferior and presence of a short prepharyngeal tube are potential synapomorphies of Cleroidea, Cucujoidea and Tenebrionoidea. The monophyly of Cleroidea and Cucujoidea is suggested by the unusual attachment of the M. tentoriostipitalis to the ventral side of the posterior hypopharynx. Cucujoidea are paraphyletic. The families Endomychidae, Coccinellidae and Nitidulidae are more closely related to the monophyletic Cleroidea, than to other cucujoid groups. Separation of the posterior tentorial arms from the tentorial bridge and presence of a maxillolabial complex are synapomorphic features of Cleroidea and these cucujoid families. For a reliable reconstruction of cucujoid interrelation ships, further characters and taxa need to be studied.

Morphology of immature stages of Prostomis mandibularis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Prostomidae)

“…3c, d). These characteristics are not necessarily autapomorphies of the whole superfamily Tenebrionoidea as presently defined (Lawrence & New ton, 1995), but clearly indicate closer relationships of Prostomidae with tenebrionoid groups than with Cucujoidea (see Beutel & Slipinski, 2001). A placement within Cucujoidea as previously suggested is not supported by any potential apomorphies.…”

“…A position of Prostomidae within Cucujiformia is clearly confirmed by the presence of tube-like glands in the head (Beutel & Slipinski, 2001) and the presence of a mala (Figs 1b, 4d), i.e. the fusion of galea and lacinia, and the strongly reduced condition of the anterior and upper parts of the tentorium (Beutel & Slipinski, 2001).…”

“…A placement within Cucujoidea as previously suggested is not supported by any potential apomorphies. An apomorphic condition which seems to be autapomorphic for the Cucujoidea + Cleroidea (Beutel & Slipinski, 2001), the origin of a part of M. tentoriostipitalis from the posterior hypopharynx, is not found in prostomid larvae.…”

“…the fusion of galea and lacinia, and the strongly reduced condition of the anterior and upper parts of the tentorium (Beutel & Slipinski, 2001). The origin of the antennal muscles from the dorsal head cap sule (Fig.…”

“…The presented phylogenetic hyptheses are preliminary as they are based on a non-cladistic interpretation of char acters and an implicit use of cucujoid taxa (see list of taxa examined) as outgroup (Beutel & Slipinski, 2001). They will have to be confirmed (or refuted) in future cladistic analyses involving a broad taxon sampling and a broad setof characters.…”