Morphological comparison of the larvae of Panorpa obtusa Cheng and Neopanorpa lui Chou & Ran (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

Abstract

Holometabolous larvae are often diverse morphologically, and the driving forces for this diversity are often not well elucidated. In this study, the larvae of two species of Panorpidae (Mecoptera) living in different habitats (epedaphic in Panorpa obtusa Cheng, 1949 and euedaphic in Neopanorpa lui Chou and Ran, 1981) are studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The larvae of Neopanorpa Weele have shallow furrows and short setae on the head capsule, and their first four abdominal prolegs are short. By contrast, the larvae of Panorpa Linnaeus have long setae but lack furrows on the head capsule, and the prolegs are medium-sized. These morphological differences may reflect their adaptations to distinct living habits.