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Petragnatha gigas
Classification
Diagnostic Features of Larvae
- Mature larva. Length up to 125 mm; maximum breadth (at prothorax) 22 mm. Head slightly depressed, subparallel-sided, widest before middle (maximum head-width 12.1 mm); frontal sutures indistinct owing to sclerotization; antennal foramen closed behind; mouthframe very strongly and broadly sclerotized, pitchy, the remainder of head capsule ferruginous; six epistomal setae present. One pair of ocelli present; lens round, strongly convex and protuberant; pigmented spot indiscernible owing to sclerotization of lens. Hypostoma feebly convex, ferruginous, with front margin broadly pitchy; sutures pitchy, incurved; gula indiscernible. Antenna 2-segmented; segment 2 slightly elongate and bearing a slender, conical, hyaline process. Maxilla with segment 3 of palp stoutly conical, about half length of segment 2. Labial palpi with segment 2 nearly two-thirds length of segment 1. Mentum distinct from submentum. Labrum transversely oval. Clypeus bearing a few bristly setae near lateral margins. Prothorax obliquely slanting, with sides diverging posteriorly; posterior part of pronotum with extremely coarse asperities which decrease in size towards posterior margin of pronotum; eusternum and sternellum coarsely asperate. Abdomen with each dorsal ampulla with two transverse impressions and four transverse rows of erect, blunt, ferruginous spines in addition to numerous scattered spines. Tergite 9 unarmed. Segment 10 bearing dense ferruginous setae, the anus a transverse cleft. Epipleurum protuberant on all segments. Pleural tubercle with a pair of large sclerotized pits. Legs vestigial. Spiracles with peritreme rather narrowly oval, extremely thick and strongly raised above general level of cuticle. Egg. Length 8.5 mm; breadth 4 mm. Form oval, strongly elongate, slightly more convex on one side. Chorion yellowish white, matt, feebly rugose. Adapted from Duffy (1957).
Biology and Economic Importance
- Biology info coming soon. Species of this tribe are potentially invasive outside their native range.
Selected References to Larvae Specimens
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