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Micrasema longulum (Trichoptera: Brachycentridae) builds a special pupation chamber

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2009

P. Zwick*
Affiliation:
Limnologische Flussstation Schlitz des Max-Planck-Instituts für Limnologie, P.O.Box 260, D-36105 Schlitz, Germany
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Abstract

Larvae of the caddisfly suborder Integripalpia normally pupate in the last instar larval tube-case. Measurements of case structures show that larvae of Micrasema longulum differ in adding a long parallel-sided anterior section to their tube-cases, shortly before pupation. They pupate in the newly built section, discarding the slightly conical larval case. Literature data suggest that two additional species of Micrasema exhibit similar behaviour. Production of a special section of tube-case for pupation is reminiscent of the situation in the primitive suborders Annulipalpia and Spicipalpia which build a pupal case which is often the only construction during the entire life cycle. It is uncertain if the behaviour of Micrasema is atavistic, or if it developed independently.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Université Paul Sabatier, 1998

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