The larva of Allopodagrion brachyurum De Marmels, 2001 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Megapodagrionidae) from Southern Brazil

Abstract

The larva of Allopodagrion brachyurum De Marmels, 2001 is the first known for the genus. The larva is described and illustrated based on exuviae of reared larvae collected in the upper course of the Rio dos Sinos, in Caraá município, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The larva of A. brachyurum can be distinguished from all other neotropical megapodagrionid larvae primarily by the presence of a well developed obtuse tubercle in sub-vertical orientation on each side of occiput; two blunt tubercles on top of the head; and caudal gills thin, stiff, triquetral and extremely long, as long as body.

Redefining the damselfly families: a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Zygoptera (Odonata)

“…In comparison to other formerly ‘megapod’ genera, both the adults and larvae have very long legs. The latter have long triquetral paraprocts and long antennae with an elongated first segment (De Marmels, ; Kalkman et al , ; Neiss et al , ; Fleck et al , ). Fleck et al () noted a close resemblance between Allopodagrion , Megapodagrion and Teinopodagrion larvae and those of Calopterygidae and Dicteriadidae, but our dataset provides no support for a relationship with these groups.…”