Morphology of the first instar larvae of two species of Taxigramma PERRIS, 1852 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The first instar larva is described for two species of the kleptoparasitic miltogrammine genus Taxigramma PERRIS: T. albina (ROHDENDORF) and T. karakulensis (ENDERLEIN). Using a combination of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the following morphological structures are documented: pseudocephalon, antennal complex, maxillary palpus, facial mask, modifications of thoracic and abdominal segments, anal region, spiracular field, posterior spiracles and details of the cephaloskeleton. The first instar larvae of T. albina and T. karakulensis exhibit substantial modification of their morphology by presence of large antennal dome, partial reduction of the antennal basal ring, lack of oral ridges, lack of dorsal bridge, strong modification of spinulation and lack of hair-like spines around the spiracular field. These character states may be treated as apomorphies in comparison with the plesiomorphic ground plan defined for larvae of saprophagous calyptrate flies.