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Acutandra
gabonica
Classification
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
- Mature larva. Length up to 35 mm; breadth (at prothorax) 6.5 mm. Form cylindrical, rather slender, gradually tapering posteriorly to abdominal segment 9. Head slightly depressed, quadrate to slightly transverse (maximum head-width 4.5 mm), sides feebly rounded. Gena with shallow constriction behind middle and bearing a few fine pale setae. Front margin of frons roundly declivous, almost straight. Antenna long, fleshy, scarcely retractile, segment 2 the longest and bearing segment 3 and a supplementary process; segment 3 strongly elongate. Mandible robust, wedge-shaped, pitchy and shining; apex acutely pointed and slightly curved downwards; molar area flattened into a striate trapezoidal plate. Clypeus trapezoidal, leathery, as wide at base as epistoma. Labrum elongate, cordate, slightly ferruginous and setose apically. Maxillary lobe rather slender, cylindrical and sparsely setose. Prothorax with posterior area of pronotum and lateral posterior angles of presternum asperate; eusternum distinctly separated from presternum. Abdomen with dorsal ampullae present on segments 1-7; each ampulla abruptly and strongly protuberant and densely spiculate. Pleural tubercles distinct and epipleura slightly protuberant on last three segments. Anal lobes compact, the dorsal lobe slightly protuberant. Legs pale, testaceous, slender, rather long; unguiculus attenuated, imbricately spinose; abdominal spiracles with peritreme broadly oval, rather thin; marginal chambers forming a crescent. Adapted from Duffy (1957).
Biology and Economic Importance
- Larvae of most species develop for about one year in rotten wood. No species are known to attack living trees or firewood, so they have no adverse economic impact. Adults are relatively short lived, probably most living less than several months. Adults feed little, or not at all (summarized from Linsley, 1961; Lawrence, 2007, and other sources).
Selected References to Larvae Specimens
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