Devadattidae, Dijkstra, Kalkman, Dow, Stokvis & van Tol, 2014

Orr, Albert G. W., 2024, A review of present knowledge of larvae of the Calopterygoidea (Zygoptera) of the Oriental realm, including keys to families and known genera, Zootaxa 5497 (2), pp. 209-243 : 232

Family Devadattidae

The family includes just a single genus Devadatta represented by 13 species which range from southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi), Indochina and Thailand, to peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. The larva is known only for D. argyoides (Selys) ( Fig.11 ) from peninsular Malaysia where it occurs in leaf packs and under dead wood near the head of forest streams The habitus was figured by Orr (2003, 2005) and structural details are shown by Novelo-Gutierrez (1995). In life, the unique gill tufts ( Fig. 9 ), illustrated by Watson (1966), on the venter of the S10 pulsate regularly as they are retracted and extended, especially in low oxygen conditions induced in the laboratory ( Orr 2008). These structures, and the unique hardened tricorn caudal gill, the elongated antennal scape longer than the pedicel and the short, broad prementum are expected in all species, but interspecific variation may occur in proportions of body parts and the shape of the caudal gills. The gill tufts may be retracted in living or preserved specimens, but in this case two small tumescent orifices are apparent. It is unlikely the larvae of any species can be mistaken for those of any other family.

Figures

FIGURES 8–11. 8. Pseudolestes mirabilis, ventral view of terminal abdominal segments and caudal gills of showing gill tufts on S10 (after Yu & Bu 2011). 9. Devadatta argyoides, detail of extruded right gill tuft, posterior view (redrawn from Watson 1966). 10. Pseudolestes mirabilis, habitus with detail of mask (after Yu & Bu 2011). 11. Devadatta argyoides, habitus with details of right antenna and mask (original drawing).