Libelloides corsicus

Libelloides corsicus (Rambur, 1842)

(Fig. 15)

The larvae of this Tyrrhenian endemic species are described here for the first time.

Examined specimens. Italy. Sardinia, 6 L3 laboratory-reared from a female collected at Mt. Doglia, Alghero (SS), VI.2010 (D. Badano); 2 L3 laboratory-reared from a female collected at Berchidda (SS), VI.2010 (D. Badano); Berchidda (SS), open cork oak wood, pitfall trap, VI.2010 (M. Verdinelli & S. Cossu), 2 L1.

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 8 specimens): BL 8.86 mm; HL 1.92 mm (1.81–2.06), HW 2.30 mm (2.13–2.41), ML 2.10 mm (2.00–2.28), HW/HL 1.20, ML/HL 1.09. General colouring dark brown with darker areas and markings, dorsal side with a median paler stripe, ventral side of the body brown with darker areas (Fig. 15c); dorsal side of the head capsule brown with dark markings on the clypeo-labrum extending on the sides and with dark spots at the base of larger dolichasters (Fig. 15b), ventral side completely brown, mandibles dark brown with paler teeth; legs with brown coxae and paler femora, tibiae and tarsi; setae of the body black. Head wider than long, slightly dilated posteriorly; mandibles slightly longer than the head capsule (Fig. 15a); interdental mandibular pseudo-teeth: (~5)(2–3)(0–1); external margin of the mandible covered by short setae. Pronotum brown with dark brown stripes; mesothoracic spiracles ochre with a dark apex. Abdominal spiracles dark brown; IX sternite dark brown.

Bio-ecology. L. corsicus is a relatively euryoecious species that is associated with open habitats such as grasslands, meadows, scrublands, glades and open woods from the sea level to the mountains. The larvae live on the soil, camouflaged between stones and tufts of herbs.

Distribution. Tyrrhenian endemism reported from Corse, Capraia, Sardinia and nearby islets.

Remarks. L. corsicus is the only species of the genus Libelloides in its Tyrrhenian range, making its identification unequivocal. The pigmentation pattern of the larvae clearly differentiates it from the closely related but allopatric L. ictericus and L. siculus. Finally, the larvae of this species are on average smaller than congeners.