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Kauri seeds and larval somersaults: The larval trunk of the seed mining basal moth Agathiphaga vitensis (lepidoptera: Agathiphagidae)
Author(s) -
Dupont Steen
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.20033
Subject(s) - biology , larva , seta , anatomy , chaetotaxy , lepidoptera genitalia , arboreal locomotion , trunk , botany , ecology , habitat , genus
The trunk morphology of the larvae of the kauri pine ( Agathis ) seed infesting moth Agathiphaga is described using conventional, polarization, and scanning electron microscopy. The pine seed chamber formed by the larva is also described and commented on. The simple larval chaetotaxy includes more of the minute posture sensing setae, proprioceptors, than expected from the lepidopteran larval ground plan. The excess of proprioceptors is suggested to be necessary for sensory input concerning the larval posture within the seed chamber. The trunk musculature includes an autapomorphic radial ventral musculature made up of unique multisegmental muscles. The combined presence of additional proprioceptors and the unique ventral musculature is proposed to be related to the larval movement within the confined space of the seed chamber, especially to a proposed somersault movement that allows the larva to orientate itself within the chamber. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.