Description of the larvae and exuviae of Thecagaster charpentieri (Kolenati, 1846) and Thecagaster brevistigma (Selys, 1854) with a re-description of the exuviae of Thecagaster coronata (Morton, 1916) (Odonata: Cordulegastridae)

Abstract

The larvae and exuviae of Thecagaster charpentieri (Kolenati, 1846) are described and depicted. Larval stages collected in Georgia was the basis for the additional description of an early larval stage of this species. A leg of the larvae was used for molecular genetic verification.

Further exuviae of T. charpentieri were collected in Azerbaijan. Morphological comparisons were conducted between the exuviae of T. charpentieri and those of the larvae and exuviae described so far of the “ bidentata group” now assembled together in the restored genus Thecagaster Selys, 1854. The exuviae of T. coronata (Morton, 1916) was re-described taking into account an earlier description by Seidenbusch et al. (2015).

In addition, the exuvia of the closely related T. brevistigma (Selys, 1854) is described and compared to T. coronata.