Micrasema longulum (Trichoptera: Brachycentridae) builds a special pupation chamber

Larvae of the caddisfly suborder Integripalpia normally pupate in the last instar larval tube-case. Measurements of case structures show that larvae of Micrasema longulum differ in adding a long parallel-sided anterior section to their tube-cases, shortly before pupation. They pupate in the newly bu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales de limnologie 1998-01, Vol.34 (4), p.437-444
Main Author: Zwick, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal ethology
atavistic trait
Biological and medical sciences
Brachycentridae
caddisfly
case-building
construction de fourrreau
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Micrasema longulum
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
pupal case
trait atavistique
trichoptère
tube-case
étui
étui nymphal
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Summary:Larvae of the caddisfly suborder Integripalpia normally pupate in the last instar larval tube-case. Measurements of case structures show that larvae of Micrasema longulum differ in adding a long parallel-sided anterior section to their tube-cases, shortly before pupation. They pupate in the newly built section, discarding the slightly conical larval case. Literature data suggest that two additional species of Micrasema exhibit similar behaviour. Production of a special section of tube-case for pupation is reminiscent of the situation in the primitive suborders Annulipalpia and Spicipalpia which build a pupal case which is often the only construction during the entire life cycle. It is uncertain if the behaviour of Micrasema is atavistic, or if it developed independently. Les larves de Trichoptères du sous-ordre des Integripalpia normalement se nymphosent dans le fourreau larvaire. Des mesures montrent que les larves de Micrasema longulum ajoutent une longue partie à parois parallèles à leurs fourreaux, peu avant la nymphose. La nymphose prend place dans la partie nouvellement construite; le fourreau larvaire conique est détaché. Selon la littérature, deux autres espèces de Micrasema semblent se comporter d'une manière semblable. Cette construction d'une partie spéciale de fourreau pour la nymphose rappelle la situation dans les sous-ordres primitifs, Annulipalpia et Spicipalpia, qui construisent un cocon nymphal représentant souvent la seule construction de ces larves. Nous ne savons pas si le comportement des Micrasema est atavistique ou s'il s'est développé de façon indépendante.
ISSN:0003-4088
2100-000X
DOI:10.1051/limn/1998034