title: Description of the immature stages of nine species of Veturius (Coleoptera: Passalidae).
abstract: The third instar of Veturius aspina Kuwert, V. assimilis (Weber), V. simillimus Kuwert, V. sinuatocollis Kuwert, V. sinuatus (Eschscholtz), V. crassus (Smith), V. impressus Hincks (as well as pupal stage), V. negroensis Boucher, and the first instar of V. oberthuri (Hincks) (Coleoptera: Passalidae) are described for the first time based on specimens from Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia. The most distinctive characters for these species are the presence and distribution of primary setae and the position, number, and size of the teeth of the metathoracic legs. An evident difference in the number of micro-conical projections on the maxillary stipes and measurements of the pars stridens (mesocoxae) suggests that these characters are useful for species identification. We present an identification key to the species of known larval Veturius (13), representing the 17.6% of total species recognized into genus. Light micrographs and scanning electronic micrographs are included for detailed characters.
authors.affiliation: Investigation group in Insects of Colombia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia Post-graduate program in Entomology, Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Brazil.; Email: karen.nino@ufv.br.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salazar-Niño
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Brazil.; Email: jeserrao@ufv.br.
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Serrão
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011679:Pupa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*