Lyponia quadricollis (Kiesenwetter, 1874)

BOCAK, L. & MATSUDA, K., 2003, Review of the immature stages of the family Lycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Journal of Natural History 37 (12), pp. 1463-1507 : 1484

Lyponia quadricollis (Kiesenwetter, 1874)

Diagnosis. L. quadricollis differs from congeneric species in the well-developed pits on terga and in anteriorly shifted light tergal patches.

Description of mature larva. Body subparallel-sided (figures 64–66). Terga dark brown, with light brown to yellow patch at anterior margin (figure 64), sternal sclerites either light yellowish-brown or only slightly infuscate. Two membranes in lateral part of epicranium (figure 70). Single large stemma on each side. Apical antennomere with slender dorsal peg-like process, as long as one half of antennomeral length (figure 69). Mandibles very long, about as long as epicranium at midline, slender, slightly curved. Palpifer slightly shorter than combined length of maxillary palpomeres. Mala firmly fused basally with palpifer, slender, long, with several setae (figures 68, 69). Labium with apparent longitudinal suture (figure 68). Ventral plate smaller, slightly wider than long (figure 68). Thoracic segments longer than abdominal ones, terga undivided, well sclerotized. Terga T1–T3 and A1–A8 with four processes, and numerous small pits in tergum (figure 64). Prosternum extensive, parallel-sided, with small, slender, posterior process. Meso- and metasternum very weakly sclerotized and pigmented (figure 65); spiracular plates T2 and T3 with functional spiracles located at upper margin (figure 66); posterior pleurites T2 and T3 inconspicuous. Legs slender, relatively long (figure 67). Abdominal segments equal in width, only A8 and A9 slightly narrower, A9 with slender, fixed urogomphi.

Measurements. BL 13.8 mm, PL 1.6 mm, PW 2.1 mm.

Material examined. Japan, Takedao Hot Springs , Hyogo Pref., K. Matsuda lgt., 29.x.1995, two mature larvae ; same data, 16.vii.1995, one mature larva, 10 medium instar larvae ( KMCT, LMBC); Japan, Hyogo Pref., Kawanishi city, Tada, 5.vii.1995, K. Matsuda lgt., one mature larva, reared in the laboratory of the junior author, pupation 22.x.1995, female emerged 14.xi.1995; Japan, Nara Pref., Nosegawamura, Mt. Kojindake , 5.viii.1996, K. Matsuda lgt., one medium instar larva ( KMCT) .

Remarks. The larvae of various stages were found in Takedao Hot Springs on cut surfaces of white rotten logs of the red pine, Pinus densiflora , and in crevices in logs. They sucked juices from logs from April to the end of October. The junior author twice observed the sucking of juices from red slime moulds, Myxomycetes, growing on the logs. The medium instar larva from Mt. Kojindake was collected in galleries of a rotten fruiting body of Elfvingia applanata (Pers.) Karst growing on Japanese beech, Fagus crenata Blume , and tunnelled by Boletoxenus incurvatus (Lewis) , Tenebrionidae (Matsuda, pers. obs.). The medium instar larva from Tada was moving on a blighted trunk of oak Quercus acutissima Carr. at night. The trunk was partly covered with fruiting bodies of Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) .