Comparison of the Pronotum Integument of Firefly Larvae; Lamprigerasp., Pyrocoelia sp., Pteroptyx sp., and Sclerotia aquatilis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Abstract

The microscopic structures of four firefly larvae species collected from different habitats were studied with particular focus on pronotum integument. The integument is important structure to control homeostasis between the insect body and environment. The protonum microscopic structure of Lamprigera, the largest terrestrial firefly larva, was very
dense consisted of epicuticle, exocuticle and endocuticle. The epicuticle has antennae structure (hair) known as a sense organ for vibration touch and sound. The exocuticle of smaller land firefly species, Pyrocoelia sp., has many cells invaded to the exocuticle lacuna. Pteroptyx, the mangrove firefly, has very thick exocuticle with a lacuna inside. The exocuticle of an aquatic firefly, Sclerotia aaquatilis, has many lacuna and the epicuticle has
many process-like receptor organs. The thickness and arrangement of the pronotum cuticle could be further used as the characteristic for taxonomic identification. The basic information of this study would be useful for other related fields e.g. ecology, comparative histology, taxonomy and systematics.