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Type: Article
Published: 2020-05-15
Page range: 561–570
Abstract views: 165
PDF downloaded: 15

Morphology of immature stages of Pyrearinus pumilus (Candèze, 1863 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Pyrophorini): the click beetle responsible for the luminous canga caves in the state of Pará, Brazil

Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Instituto de Recursos Naturais, Av. BPS, 1303, CEP 37500-903, Itajubá-MG, Brazil
Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Monitoramento Ambiental, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, campus Sorocaba, Sorocaba-SP, Brazil.
Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000 São Paulo-SP, Brazil
Coleoptera Bioluminescence ferruginous cave firefly Neotropical Region termite nest

Abstract

The Pyrearinus pumilus species group from South America includes luminescent click beetles (Agrypninae: Pyrophorini) associated with the phenomena of “luminescent termite mounds” and “luminous canga caves”. The latter was recently reported in the state of Pará, Brazil. This group includes six species based on the morphology of adults, of which two have immature stages already described. In this work we present the morphology and biological aspects of mature larva and pupa of Pyrearinus pumilus (Candèze, 1863), from the canga caves. Moreover, we provide a key and illustrations for identification of male adults and the known larvae. Our study shows that: (1) morphological characters of immatures support the close relationship of P. pumilus with their allies in the P. pumilus species group; (2) the traits of the known larvae of the P. pumilus species group are reliable for species identification.

 

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