Morphological description of the last instar larva of Tipula (Pterelachisus) cinereocincta mesacantha Alexander 1934 (Diptera: Tipuloidea: Tipulidae), a newly recorded crane fly from China.

Tipuloidea (crane flies) is one of the most species-rich groups of Diptera, including over 15,000 species worldwide, with a wide variety of habitats. However, relatively less attention has been paid to the larvae of crane flies in contrast to the better-known adults. In this study, Tipula (Pterelachisus) cinereocincta mesacantha Alexander, 1934 is added to the fauna of China, from larvae found beneath a piece of moss in a forest of eastern Liaoning and reared and associated with the adult stage. The external structures of the larva are described thoroughly accompanied by light microscopy photographs. In addition, with scanning electron microscopy, more detailed structures of the larval head capsule, the antenna and the mouthparts are presented for the first time for the larvae of Tipula (Pterelachisus). Some microscopic structures, including the paired peg-like sensilla on the central teeth of epipharynx, and a pair of cushiony lobes anterior to the teeth, are newly recorded for the larva of Tipuloidea. On the basis of the comparison of larval characters, the described larvae of Pterelachisus are roughly categorized into three groups. The variations of larval heads between T. (P.) cinereocincta mesacantha and other related species are also discussed. This discovery will provide new data and insights for further research on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Tipuloidea, as well as some evidence on the biology and adaptions of crane fly larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]