Orthetrum borneense, Kimmins, 1936

Steinhoff, Philip O. M., Butler, Stephen G. & Dow, Rory A., 2016, Description of the final instar larva of Orthetrum borneense Kimmins, 1936 (Odonata, Libellulidae), using rearing and molecular methods, Zootaxa 4083 (1), pp. 99-108 : 100-105

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4083.1.5

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AF2E3161-DA92-4935-BF50-4F0AA53514DF

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6078878

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AB87B7-1B4C-6E6E-6991-F8A9FC17D2A4

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Orthetrum borneense
status

 

Description of the larva of Orthetrum borneense View in CoL

Table 3. List of larval material examined (all from Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak)

Description of a male larva reared in the lab (POMS485-2014)

Diagnosis (For habitus see Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ). A rather hairy, long legged larva; head with prominent eyes, abdomen rather elongate.

Head ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Wider than long, widens from base to eyes. Eyes large, about the same length as lateral margins. Postocular lobes rounded, suboval glabrous areas longer than broad, touching hind margin. Antennae seven-segmented. Clypeus and frons well developed, labrum not visible in dorsal view but covered by palps of the spoon-shaped labium. Labium with prementum short and broad, reaching well behind the posterior margin of the front coxae ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Prementum with an oval-shaped depression mediodorsally, a wave-shaped row of 15–20 setae on each side of the depression ( Fig. 4a View FIGURE 4 ). Setae gradually shorter and more densely packed towards the depression ( Fig. 4a View FIGURE 4 ). Anterior margin of prementum rounded, but pointed medially with 13 very weak crenations and several small, spine-like setae ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Labial palps subtriangular, with seven long setae on dorsal margin and strong single end-spines ( Fig. 4a,b View FIGURE 4 ). Medial margins of labial palps with ten fine rounded crenations ( Fig. 4b View FIGURE 4 ).

Thorax ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Prothorax narrow, in dorsal view partially obscured by long setae originating on the hind margin of the head. Synthorax covered by setae except for bare area in dorsal anterior part, and bare areas laterally between coxae. Wing cases dark with long, thin and erect setae on margins and one row of setae medially on surfaces ( Fig. 4f View FIGURE 4 ). Wing cases reaching well onto the 5th segment ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Legs with long setae on flexor and extensor margins of femora and tibiae, hind legs additionally with strong spines on flexor margins of tibiae; all tarsi with short stout spines on flexor surfaces.

Abdomen ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Moderately high in profile, rather elongate, broadest part somewhat caudally from middle. S8–9 with short lateral spines, S4–7 with very strong dorsal spines ( Fig. 4e View FIGURE 4 ). Spines most strongly developed and nearly erect on S4 and S5, gradually decreasing in size rearwards ( Fig. 4e View FIGURE 4 ). Spine on S4 broken off in specimen described here, but present in all other examined material ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 4e View FIGURE 4 ). Dorsal spines on S5 and S6 overlap intersegmental skins ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 3e View FIGURE 3 ). Dorsal spines accompanied by tufts of long setae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Caudal margins of S5–9 with long setae that cover intersegmental skins; lateral margins of S5–9 with short setae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ). Anal pyramid large and elongate, paraprocts slightly inward curved ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4c,d View FIGURE 4 ). Paraprocts slightly shorter than epiproct (1:1.1), cerci shorter than paraprocts (1:1.6). Margins of paraprocts and epiproct with long setae ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 , 3 View FIGURE 3 ).

Measurements (mm): Total length 32.4; paraproct length (ventral) 1.8; head width 8.2; prementum width 6.6; prementum length (ventral) 5.8.

Variation among reared specimens. One female with two additional small setae on dorsal margin of right labial palp, positioned anteriorly of the seven other setae and oriented somewhat more dorsally. One female with nine instead of ten crenations on medial margin of palps. Number of weak crenations on anterior margin of prementum varies between 12 and 15 among specimens. Paraprocts as long as epiproct in females (1:1) and cerci with half the length of paraprocts in females (1:2). Dorsal spine on S 7 in some females very small and procumbent.

Measurement ranges in examined specimen (n=8) (mm): Total length 29.7–33.3; paraproct length (ventral) 1.6–2.3; head width 7.7–8.5; prementum width 6.4–7.3; prementum length (ventral) 5.8–6.8.

Comparison between reared specimen and the early instar matched to adults using DNA barcoding. The early instar has a less elongate shape, with the abdomen more compact than in the final instar. Setae are about the same length in the early instar as in the final instar, which gives the much smaller larva a more setose overall appearance. However, the arrangement of setae and the bare spots on the thorax are the same as in the final instar. The eyes seem somewhat more protruding in the early instar than in the final instar, but the general head form and proportions agree well. Prementum and labial palps as in final instar. Wing cases tiny with few long setae. Dorsal and lateral spines on abdomen not yet developed. Paraprocts slightly longer than epiproct, setae on base of terminal appendages as in the final instar.

Measurements (mm): Total length 7.8; paraproct length 0.7; head width 2.4; prementum width 1.9; prementum length (ventral) 2.3.

Habitat. Orthetrum borneense is known exclusively from the Bornean highlands above 1000 m a.s.l. Most records are from primary (but in some cases disturbed by logging) forest, but at 1600 m a.s.l. at Paya Maga in Sarawak’s Limbang Division adults were found around small pools of water in open areas (Chee Yen Choong, personal communication). At Gunung Mulu the larva inhabits shallow, shady forest pools whose substrates usually consist of many layers of leaf litter. It can often be found in large numbers at such sites. In forest pools at high altitude on Gunung Mulu, O. borneense larvae were one of only a few species found along with larvae of Indaeshna grubaueri and Coeliccia cf. nemoricola ( Steinhoff 2015).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata

Family

Libellulidae

Genus

Orthetrum

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