Description of the last instar larva of Cordulegaster vanbrinkae and emergence place from northern Iran (Odonata: Cordulegastridae)

Abstract

The larva of Cordulegaster vanbrinkae Lohmann, 1993 is described and illustrated based on fourteen final instar larvae and 49 exuviae that were collected in Gīlān, Māzandarān and Golestān provinces in northern Iran in July 2014, July 2017 and August 2018. Larvae of Cordulegaster vanbrinkae show signs of lateral spine on 8th segment missing, ratio of lateral spine on 9th segment/9th segment is 0.03–0.15 and 5 (rarely 6) long praemental setae. The characters have a clear variability and there is a noticeable overlap of character values with related species - Cordulegaste picta and Cordulegaster heros. Emergence habitat are described and analysed.