Larval morphology of the water beetle Ochthebius balfourbrownei (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from marine rockpools of Cape Verde Islands

The morphology of larval instars I, II and III of the water beetle Ochthebius (Cobalius) balfourbrownei Jach, 1989 from Cape Verde Islands is described and illustrated for the first time, by scanning electron microscopy, with a special emphasis on their chaetotaxy and porotaxy. Specimens used in this study were collected with adults of the same species in marine rockpools. A detailed description of characters is provided for comparison with the other members of the same genus inhabiting the marine rockpools, and illustrations of the diagnostic features are presented, with the aim of providing information useful for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the genus Ochthebius.