Ultramorphological characteristics of mature larvae of Nitidula carnaria (Schaller 1783) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a beetle species of forensic importance

Abstract

Beetles of the genus Nitidula Fabricius are forensically important, and their adults and larvae have been found associated with human corpses and animal carcasses in many places of the world. The external morphology of the larvae of Nitidula carnaria (Schaller 1783) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to provide a description enabling identification of this forensically important species. The ultrastructure of the head was examined, antennae, mandibles, epipharynx, maxillary and labial palpi, spiracles, thorax, legs, and abdominal segments (especially segments 9 and 10); the tegument was also emphasised in this examination. Several types of sensilla were observed on the maxillary and labial palpi, including sensilla basiconica, sensilla styloconica, and perhaps a different type of sensilla digitiformia. In abdominal segment 10, a sensilla campaniformia was observed. Two types of plates were noticed in the abdominal tegument. The characteristics described here can be used to identify this species. No other study of the ultrastructure of Nitidulidae larvae is available for comparison. This is the first report of N. carnaria in carcasses in Chile.

Morphology and distribution of antennal, maxillary palp and labial palp sensilla of the adult bruchid beetles,Callosobruchus chinensis(L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

“…They may have the function of a chemoreceptor and mechanoreceptor (Farazmand & Chaika ; Faucheux ; Ortloff et al . ). Some people also have speculated they are thermo‐, hygro‐ and CO 2 ‐ sensitive (Honomichl & Guse ).…”

“…The sensilla digitiformia are observed on labial and maxillary palp of many insects (Honomichl & Guse 1981;Giglio et al 2003). They may have the function of a chemoreceptor and mechanoreceptor (Farazmand & Chaika 2008;Faucheux 2008;Ortloff et al 2014). Some people also have speculated they are thermo-, hygro-and CO 2 -sensitive (Honomichl & Guse 1981).…”

Comparative morphology of sensilla on antenna, maxillary palp and labial palp of larvae of Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (Olivier) and E. brandti (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…The neuronal structure of digitiform sensilla was similar to that of the neurons for hygro-/thermo-receptors (Keil 1996;Eilers et al 2012;Ortloff et al 2014), and, based on electrophysiological experiments, the strongest reactions of the maxillary palp and labial palp were clearly to CO 2 (Honomichl and Guse 1981). The neuronal structure of digitiform sensilla was similar to that of the neurons for hygro-/thermo-receptors (Keil 1996;Eilers et al 2012;Ortloff et al 2014), and, based on electrophysiological experiments, the strongest reactions of the maxillary palp and labial palp were clearly to CO 2 (Honomichl and Guse 1981).…”

“…Sensilla with similar morphometrics are observed in many insects, including Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Nitidula carnaria Schaller (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Languria mozaradi Latreille (Coleoptera: Languriidae), Chrysolina aeruginosa Fald (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Hypera postica (gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae;Bland 1983;Baker and Ellsbury 1989;Bloom et al 1982;Farazmand and Chaika 2008;Giglio et al 2013;Ortloff et al 2014;Xu et al 2017). Sensilla with similar morphometrics are observed in many insects, including Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Nitidula carnaria Schaller (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Languria mozaradi Latreille (Coleoptera: Languriidae), Chrysolina aeruginosa Fald (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Hypera postica (gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae;Bland 1983;Baker and Ellsbury 1989;Bloom et al 1982;Farazmand and Chaika 2008;Giglio et al 2013;Ortloff et al 2014;Xu et al 2017).…”

Comparative morphology of sensilla on antenna, maxillary palp and labial palp of larvae of white‐spotted and yellow‐spotted Asian long‐horned beetle,Anoplophora glabripennisMotschulsky (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

“…The sensilla styloconica were found on the top of the labial palp of Nitidula carnaria Schaller (Ortloff et al . ), and the maxillary palp and labial palp of Carabus lefebvrei Dejean had sensilla coeloconica (Giglio et al . ).…”