Archineura, Kirby, 1894

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 : 223

Archineura

The genus includes just three species, two from southern China and one from northern Vietnam, Archineura maxima (Martin) , which is likely already extinct ( Hämäläinen 2015). The larva of A. incarnata (Karsch) has been described in detail ( Yang et al. 2022) and by virtue of its size and uniquely elongate, tuberculate caudal lamellae ( Fig. 42 ) cannot be mistaken with any other genus. According to Yang et al. (2022), “they are typical claspers and are found on the under surface large stones and boulders in the middle of streams, but not at the stream edge where most other larvae of the family are found...” and, “If a rock provides a suitable microhabitat and is sufficiently large, 2– 3 larvae can be found together.”, these notes being based on both presumed larvae of A. hetaerinoides (Fraser) from Guangxi and A. incarnata from Guangdong. The presumed A. hetaerinoides larva is very similar to A. incarnata (H-M Zhang pers comm.).

Figures

FIGURES 42–51. 42. Archineura incarnata: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (drawn from Yang et al. 2022). 43. Echo modesta: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below, with baso-dorsal shield arrowed (original illustration). 44. Psolodesmus mandarinus, dorsal view of caudal gills, with baso-dorsal shield of median gill arrowed (redrawn from Matsuki & Lien 1978). 45. Mnais andersoni, left lateral caudal gill with upper margin of median gill visible; baso-dorsal shield of median gill arrowed (original illustration). 46. Mnais gregoryi: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below, with baso-dorsal shield arrowed (drawn from Yang et al. 2021). 47. Caliphaea angka: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (drawn from Yang et al. 2021). 48. Matrona basilaris: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (drawn from Wang et al. 2017). 49. Vestalaria venusta: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (drawn from Wang et al. 2017). 50. Vestalis amoena group: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (redrawn from Lieftinck 1965). 51. Vestalis melania: caudal gills; left lateral above, median below (redrawn from Guadalquiver et al. 2022).