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Elmidae is a diverse family of aquatic Coleoptera with nearly 1500 species and 150 genera inthe world. However, most of the species and genera lack larval associations. One of thesegenera is Gyrelmis, which has 12 species reported from Brazil, Colombia and French Guiana.The larva of Gyrelmis is described and illustrated in this work from specimens collected inColombia and French Guiana. The larva of Gyrelmis is similar to that of Xenelmis in itshumpback, conical body which tapers apically, and the integumentary surface beingsmooth, not tuberculate. It can be distinguished from other genera, especially Xenelmis,because it has pleurites on only one abdominal segment, a prosternum with twoanterolateral and one central and one posteromedial sclerites, meso and metasternum withone anterior and two lateral sclerites, closed procoxal cavities, a short sensorium on thesecond antennomere, clypeus and anterior region of head without teeth, thorax and firstabdominal segments with integumentary expansions, and with spine-like setae on thepleural regions of the abdominal and thoracic tergites. |
