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Agapanthia villosoviridescens
Classification
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
- Mature larva. Form very elongate, slender, curved and cylindrical. Length up to 27 mm; maximum breadth (at prothorax), 5 mm. Head salient, oval in cross-section (maximum head-width, 2.5 mm), with sides slightly rounded and converging for posterior third; almost entirely uniformly sclerotized and chocolate-brown in color; occipital foramen postero-ventral; antennal foramen closed behind; frontal sutures distinct for entire length; genae broadly rounded smooth, sparsely setose; numerous (at least twenty) epistomal setae present. One pair of ocelli present; lens large, oval brownish; pigmented spot indistinct. Labrum thick, strongly transverse, densely setose. Mandibles bidentate apically. Hypostoma slightly convex, smooth, chocolate brown and bearing a few fine setae; sutures strongly curved inward. Gular region denoted by a broad, pale area. Antenna minute, two-segmented; second segment very short, transversely dome-shaped and bearing a small tapering, hyaline process. Maxillary palpi three-segmented; third segment as long as second. Labial palpi with third segment slightly shorter than second. Mentum distinct from submentum. Prothorax with a large brown sclerotized plate (which is bisected by a pale, median cleavage line) on dorsum; lateral groove absent; presternum with a pair of large brown sclerotized plates; mesosternum and metasternum extremely protuberant. Abdomen with segments elongate and cylindrical, each dorsal ampulla with two transverse rows of glabrous, elongate tubercles which are broadly interrupted by a median furrow; ventral ampullae absent. Ninth segment swollen; densely setose, as wide and high as apex of eighth. Epipleurum protuberant on all segments; tubercle with sclerotized pits indiscernible and bearing several setae. Anus trilobed, and in center of apical truncation of ninth. Legs absent. Spiracles round, with about thirty marginal chambers which occupy the entire inner margin of the peritreme.
Pupa. Length, 13-19 mm; maximum breadth, 3.75 mm. Head with vertex entirely visible from above, deeply excavated and with two longitudinal rows of long setae between bases of antennae; front with two groups of similar setae immediately below bases of antennae, and a small group on each gena; clypeus with a transverse impression and about twelve setae across base. Antennae extending as far as first abdominal segment where they are strongly curved downward and directed anteriorly as far as vertex of head, where they are curled over dorsally to terminate near hind margin of bead. Eyes feebly convex, glabrous. Mandibles with three fine setae near middle of outer face. Labrum bearing numerous long setae at base and a few shorter setae along front margin. Pronotum bearing numerous long, fine setae, especially along lateral margins. Mesonotum smooth and with a few fine setae; scutellum scarcely protuberant, glabrous. Metanotum smooth and with. a few fine setae on each side of scutellar groove. Elytra and wings extending to fourth abdominal segment. Abdomen with tergites one to six with very strongly protuberant, bilobed ampullae, which each bear a transverse group of hook-like spines which are strongly curved in a posterior direction. Seventh tergite elongate, slightly tapering; bearing numerous straight spines, and with a conspicuous bifurcated tuberculate protuberance at middle of base. Eighth tergite short, transverse, with hind margin broadly rounded and bearing a row of short stout spines. Ninth tergite very short, and concealed beneath eighth; bearing a few shorter spines and setae. Sternites without ampullae but with scattered fine setae. Ninth sternite with a pair of strongly protuberant lobes, each bearing long, dense setae. Pleura scarcely protuberant, each with long fine seta. Legs with a few fine setae near apex of each femur; mid and hind femora each with a straight tuberculate process near base; hind femora extending to third abdominal segment; tibiae directed posteriorly. Functional spiracles present on first seven abdominal segments and a vestigial pair present on segment eight; peritreme broadly oval, thick, and very slightly raised above general level of cuticle. Adapted from Duffy (1953).
Biology and Economic Importance
- Members of this tribe are known from various host plant families. Species of this tribe are potentially invasive outside their native range.
Selected References to Larvae Specimens
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