Evolutionary Adaptations in Larvae of Holometabola.

Abstract

The biology of holometabolan larvae, which are often the main feeding stage, is extremely diverse. Phytophagy plays a significant role in basal hymenopteran groups, in Lepidoptera, and in megadiverse groups of polyphagan beetles. A switch to parasitoidism was a major evolutionary shift in Hymenoptera. Predaceous habits are generally found in Neuropterida, in various groups of Coleoptera, and in some trichopterans. Wood and fungi play an important role in Archostemata and several groups of polyphagan beetles, as well as in some groups of Hymenoptera and Diptera. Two main trends can be observed in larvae of megadiverse holometabolan groups: enormous morphological diversification as in Coleoptera or alternatively morphological simplification and uniformity as in the hymenopteran Apocrita and the dipteran Brachycera. The ability of larvae to use food sources and microhabitats different from those used by adults has likely contributed to the evolutionary success of holometabolan lineages.