| Popis: |
Neoelmis argentinensis sp. nov., mature larva (Figs 7–25) Length: last instar length 6.1 to 6.9 mm; maximum width 0.6 to 0.7 mm. Body elongate (Figs 7–8), parallel sided, subcylindrical in cross-section; color brown to reddish brown. Head capsule: Subquadrate, prognathous, not concealed by pronotum; surface covered by granules, smaller on basal 1/5 (Fig. 9). Ocular areas light brown, stemmata closely aggregated forming an ocular-spot. Coronal suture short, frontal sutures long, extending to base of antennae on anterolateral corners of head capsule; frontoclypeal suture weakly insinuate. Anterior margin of clypeus serrate, with small tooth on each lateral margin close to antennal base (Fig. 10). Gula well demarcated, subtrapezoidal, basal margin wider than distal (Fig. 16). Labrum: Subrectangular, with anterolateral corners rounded (Figs. 11–12); midline with transverse row of setae, anterolateral corners with four strong setae each. Ventral surface of labrum (epipharynx) pubescent (Fig. 12). Antenna: Short, as long as mandible, with 3 antennomeres (Fig. 13). Basal antennomere stout, with several distal setae and pores, inner margin with short cuticular spines; second antennomere longest, bearing a slender apical sensorium on outer margin; third antennomere shortest, slightly shorter than sensorium, bearing short distal seta. Mandibles: Symmetrical, grooved, apex tridentate (Figs 14–15), with one distal tooth and two subapical teeth, one dorsal and one ventral; an additional small inner retinaculum on dorsal margin. Inner margin of groove with comb of setae projecting medially. Dorsal inner margin with long setose articulated process projecting medially (prostheca); outer margin of mandible with two stout, hyaline ramose setae. Maxilla: Cardo short, subtriangular (Fig. 16), bearing one fringed seta. Stipes long, subrectangular (Fig. 16), bearing several small fringed setae on basal third and outer margin; one long and stout subapical seta on outer margin and one large pore mediad of that seta. Lacinia and galea well developed (Fig. 17); lacinia with a strong lobe with five strong setae on mesal margin, projecting dorsally; galea one-segmented, with serrated distal margin and 4 apical setae. Palp with 4 palpomeres (Fig. 17), first palpomere shortest, with one outer branched seta; remaining palpomeres subequal in length, second palpomere with two ventral pores, third palpomere with two ventral pores and two short dorsal apical setae; fourth palpomere the narrowest, with several distal sensilla. Labium: Large, formed by prementum and postmentum (Fig. 17). Postmentum large, subrectangular, longer than wide, basal third with several short fringed setae; distal third with one stout long seta on each outer margin and one pair of large pores close to midline; lateroapical margins each with a long, blunt, articulated porose sensillum. Prementum short, subtrapezoidal, less sclerotized, each anterolateral corner with a fringed seta. Palpi with two palpomeres (Fig. 17), palpomeres subequal in length, basal one stouter, with one ventral apical pore and several cuticular spines on outer and distal margins; second palpomere with several short sensilla. Ligula as a short lobe, bearing a transverse row of short setae and covered by numerous short, cuticular spines. Thorax: Strongly sclerotized, all sclerites covered by setiferous tubercles densely distributed, those on dorsal and lateral areas conical (Fig. 18), those on ventral areas shorter and distally concave (Fig. 19); tergal plates with sagittal lines. Prothorax as long as meso- and metathorax combined (ca. 0.65 mm, Figs. 7–8), subquadrate in dorsal view; anterior margin of pronotum with row of tubercles bearing long feather-like setae; venter of prothorax with five sclerites (Fig. 20): two anterior, subrectangular, two lateral and one posteromedial, subpentagonal; procoxal cavities closed. Meso- and metathorax shorter, subequal in length, wider than long, subrectangular in dorsal view. Venter of meso- and metathorax each with five sclerites (Fig. 21), one large, subpentagonal, anterior to coxae, two small ones on each lateral margin; coxal cavities open; mesothorax with one pair of lateroventral spiracles. Legs similar in shape (Fig. 22), those of prothorax shortest. Coxa large, subtriangular; trochanter small, subtriangular; femur long, wider distally; tibia long, narrower than femur, bearing hooked tarsungulus. Abdomen: Long, tapering towards distal end, nine-segmented; segments I-VIII subequal in length, slightly wider basally than distally. Terga I-VIII with sagittal line (Fig. 7). Pleural sclerites present on segments I-VII (Fig. 24); sternal sclerites of these segments subquadrate (Fig. 24); sternum of segment I with a short carina on anterior third (Fig. 23). Segment VIII entire, ring-like. Segment IX elongate, 2.5 times longer than previous segment, bearing a feeble dorsal keel (Fig. 7); sternal area with apical gill chamber, operculum subpentagonal, covering a pair of strong distal hooks (Fig. 25). Spiracles present laterally on segments I-VIII. |
