Discovery of the remarkable larvae of hoplandriini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

Abstract

A distinctive and highly modified but previously unassociated type of aleocharine staphylinid larva was shown by rearing to belong to Hoplandria klimaszewskii Génier, 1989, providing the first knowledge of any larva of the tribe Hoplandriini. Larvae of this species are described, with notes on their feeding and locomotory behavior. Their unique features are extremely large downturned antennal sensory appendage; very elongate legs with two and one spatulate setae on each proand mesofemur, respectively; abdomen very elongate, with tergum and sternum of segment IX fused into a single sclerotized tube uniformly covered with short setae; meso- and metanota and abdominal terga and sterna without anterior cariniform lines; hypertriohous setal patterns (compared with other Aleocharinae) present on all but the head; extremely short urogomphi; and lack of pygopodial gripping structures. The field-collected last instar constructed an apparently silken cocoon covered with soil particles within which it pupated, as known in other Aleocharinae. Along with the reared specimen, other material studied extends the range of H. klimaszewskii from far southern to northeastern Illinois (Cook County, new county record). Larvae from México, Peru, Madagascar, and New Zealand very similar to H. klimaszewskii and presumably representing other hoplandriine taxa have also been seen, although Hoplandriini have not been recorded from New Zealand. © 2004 Entomological Society of America.