Lygistopterus sanguineus (Linnaeus, 1758)

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 : 1481-1482

Lygistopterus sanguineus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Diagnosis. Lygistopterus sanguineus is easily distinguished in Europe by its characteristic shape of the abdominal segment A9 and its coloration, but these characters are shared with most members of the specious genus Calochromus Guérin Méneville. The larva of Macrolygistopterus sp. and one species of Calochromus (Bali) differ in having stick-like processes posterior to the abdominal spiracular plates.

Description of mature larva. Body almost cylindrical, subparallel (figures 34–38). Sclerites dark brown to black, abdominal segment A9 yellowish brown, urogomphi black, membranes yellowish white. Head transverse (figures 40, 41). Pleural part of epicranium sclerotized (figure 40). Ventral plate extensive, pentagonal (figure 41). Antennomere 1 transverse, compared with other lycids quite robust. Mandibles slender, sickle-like, with long seta at base. Palpifer sclerotized ventrally, membranous dorsally (figure 43). Mala sclerotized, very small, slender, attached to inner dorsal margin of palpifer, apex slightly overlaps distal margin of palpifer. Maxillary palpi slightly shorter than palpifer (figure 43). Thorax narrower than abdomen, all segments incompletely divided in two parts by very narrow, middle, longitudinal suture (figure 34). Pronotum transverse, rounded anteriorly, prosternum extensive, feebly sclerotized, precoxale closely attached to prosternum. Spiracle T2 small, almost in centre of spiracular plates (figure 36). Meso- and metasternum extensive, each with two setae. Meso- and metanotum transverse, with two setae at anterior angles (figure 34). Legs short, coxae ring-like, short (figure 39). Abdominal terga A1–A8 lacking processes (figure 37). Abdominal tergum A9 convex laterally, with numerous long setae. Urogomphi fairly long, fixed, robust (figure 37). Spiracles located inside sclerite at frontodorsal margin, small tubercle with two setae in posterior part of upper pleurite; bottom pleurites less sclerotized, each with one seta.

Measurements. BL 9–18 mm, PL 0.53–1.1 mm, PW 1.2–2.4 mm.

Pupa. Exarate, slender, pronotum without any tubercles, with two fine setae at anterior margin, one seta in each anterior angle and one seta at lateral margin shortly before posterior angle. Abdomen with short conical tubercles at posterior margins of terga and longer tubercles in pleural part of A1–A8, each tubercle with two short peg-like processes, entire apex bearing numerous, very short and fine setae in apical part (magnification 180×), pleural tubercles with two to three long setae, tergal tubercles with only one seta.

Material examined. Slovakia, Malacky. 1.v.1998, L. Bocak and M. Bocakova lgt., 16 last instar larvae, three medium instar larvae, one pupa ( LMBC) ; several larvae were kept to pupate and the adults were reared. Poland, Warszawa-Bielany, 14.ii.1959, B. Burakowski lgt. one mature larva ( LMBC) . Poland, Lomna —las, 1.v.1985, leg. S. A. Slipinski, four mature larvae, one reared adult ( LMBC) , Bulgaria, Kosti, 11.v.2000, I. Jenis ˘ lgt., three mature larvae ( LMBC) .