THE GENUS OMOPHRON LATREILLE (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE): REDESCRIPTION OF THE LARVAL STAGE AND PHYLOGENETIC CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract
A revised generic description of the three larval instars of Omophron is presented. Hypothetical apotypic character states of the genus are: bidentate retinaculum; lacinia subequal in length to galea and apically subspatulate; ligula as long as labial palp; pore LAa located on ligula and seta LA6 on basal third of ligula; setae TI2* and TI7* of middle and hind tibiae located basally; setae UN1 and UN2 flat and about 1.5 times the length of claws; presence of serially paired gland-like structures on abdominal pleura I–VII; hypopleurites not apparent in first instar; apex of urogomphi extended as a small hyaline appendix in first instar; setae PY1, PY2, and PY6 on the pygidium absent. Most of these character states are autapotypic, and no synapotypies were found to indicate a sister group to Omophron.