Macrolycus pectinifer (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 : 1479

Macrolycus pectinifer (Kiesenwetter, 1874)

Diagnosis. M. pectinifer differs from similar M. similaris in having lighter anterior and posterior angles of pronotum.

Description of mature larva. Body parallel-sided (figures 28–31). Sclerites dark brown, membranes yellowish-white, pronotum with lighter patches in anterior and posterior angles, other terga with rounded testaceous patches in middle of lateral margins. Pleural part of head membranous, border between membrane and sclerites sharp, conspicuous. One stemma in deep incision at frontolateral margin of epicranium (figure 32). Mala membranous, with two setae and several sensoria subapically, reaching to apex of antennomere 2. Prementum transverse (figures 32, 33), ventral plate extensive, well sclerotized. Pronotum transverse, rounded anteriorly, with inconspicuous, obtuse anterior angles (figure 28), pronotal tergum entire. Terga of meso- and metathorax partly divided (figure 28), light median line membranous only in frontal part, lightly sclerotized, glabrous and unpigmented posteriorly. Prosternum with short posterior process. Precoxalia separated from prosternum (figure 29). Metasternum, and mesosternum in particular reduced, sickle-like (figure 29). Mesothoracic spiracular plate extensive with well developed biforous spiracle. Terga A1–A8 partly, longitudinally divided anteriorly. Spiracle in upper sclerite, at upper margin (figure 31).

Measurements. BL 13 mm, PL 1.9 mm, PW 3.05 mm.

Pupa. Exarate, pronotum with simple, bare lateral and frontal margin, spiracles A1–A8 on small, flat tubercles, segment A8 with two slender, dorsolateral processes, apical part of male genitalia visible in pupa. Very short, minute seta in anterior pronotal angles, similar seta posterior abdominal spiracles A1–A8.

Material examined. Japan, Hyogo pref., Takarazuka city, Takedao Hot Springs , 29.x.1995, leg. K. Matsuda, seven mature larvae, reared in laboratory of the junior author, pupation on 26.iii.–29.iv.1995, one male and two females emerged 15.iv.–16.v.1995, one male pupa fixed in alcohol ( KMTC, LMBC) .

Remarks. The larvae of M. pectinifer and M. similaris occurred syntopically. Males were associated with larvae by rearing. The larvae of various stages moved slowly on the surface of logs, in crevices, and in the tunnels bored by xylophagous insects in the white rotten logs of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. They were found in shaded places from April to November. The junior author observed several times larvae sucking the juices from the wet surface of logs.