Coleoptera

Fikáček, Martin, Skuhrovec, Jiří & Šípek, Petr, 2015, Abstracts of the Immature Beetles Meeting 2015, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (2), pp. 859-880 : 869-871

( Coleoptera : Haliplidae )

Kirill V. MAKAROV 1) & Alexander A. PROKIN 2)

1) Zoology & Ecology Department, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Kibalchicha Str. 6, Bld. 5, Moscow 129164, Russia ; e-mail: [e-mail]

2) Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Nekouzsky District, Yaroslavl Oblast, 152742 Russia; e-mail: [e-mail]

Haliplus larvae are characterized by long postanal process, often forked at the tip. This process was interpreted as partially fused urogomphi (VONDEL 2004, 2005, 2011, etc.; BEUTEL et al. 2011), or modified cerci (JABOULET 1960). According to SEEGER (1971), SPANGLER (1991) and LAWRENCE & ŚLIPIŃSKI (2013), abdominal segment X is expanded posteriorly forming a median process.

We have studied the structure of the terminal segment of the larvae of Haliplus s.str. and Liaphlus spp. on the series of sections 10 and 20  m, stained with Mayer’s haematoxylin.

Muscles of abdominal segments in Haliplus consist of muscle bundles that do not form bands or layers. The complexity of the muscular system of Haliplus is far inferior to that of the larvae of Dytiscidae (SPEYER 1922) and approaches to the minimum set of muscles, known for smallest larvae of Ptiliidae (GREBENNIKOV & BEUTEL 2002, POLILOV & BEUTEL 2009).

In the abdominal segment VIII–IX M. dorsales interni mediales and M. ventrales interni mediales (nomenclature of muscles after KEMNER 1913) are well developed, originating from the phragma and attached to the edge of the next segment. Typically, each of these muscles is represented by two pairs of bundles. Working as antagonists, they provide flexion and extension of the abdomen in the sagittal plane. External longitudinal muscles are absent. Dorsoventral muscles of the segments are represented by two groups with different functions: oblique M. urotergosternales interni provide lateral flexion of the abdomen and, in part, act as synergists of longitudinal muscles; transverse M. tergosternales externi act as depressors of the segment. Each group of dorsoventral muscles is also represented by several bundles, so that the bundles of oblique muscles are able to act as their antagonists.

Musculature of the abdominal segment X is represented by 3–4 bundles of muscles, which originate on the dorsal surface and are inserted at the edges of the anal area. Anal area of Haliplius, like other cuticle, is strongly sclerotized and represented by two lobes bearing paired apodemes. Paired distal muscles (homologs of dorsal retractor – M. retractores ani dorsales ) are attached to these apodemes, as well as 2–3 pairs of proximal muscles, interpreted by us as ventral retractors ( M. retractores ani ventrales , M. retractores bursarum analium). Musculature of abdominal segment X in Adephaga larvae is formed exclusively by longitudinal muscles – the retractors of the anus, anal camera, or eversible appendages (KEMNER 1913). Thus, it can be assumed that the longitudinal axis of abdominal segment X in Haliplus is heavily tilted, takes an almost vertical position and does not coincide with the axis of the postanal process, occupying the terminal position. Therefore, this postanal process should be considered as outgrowth of the dorsal surface of the segment X, not homologous to urogomphi or cerci.

Acknowledgements. This study received financial support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, project no 6.632.2014/K (K. Makarov) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 15-04-02971 (A. Prokin). Authors are grateful to D. E. Shcherbakov (Paleontological Institute RAS, Moscow) for the help in abstract translation.

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