LARVAL INSECT IDENTIFICATION BY CELLULOSE-ACETATE GEL-ELECTROPHORESISAND ITS APPLICATION TO LIFE-HISTORY EVALUATION AND COHORT ANALYSIS

Early instar larvae that lack distinguishing structural characters can be identified quickly and easily with cellulose acetate gel electroph oresis. Examples are given from the genera Ameletus (Ephemeroptera) an d Coenagrion, Enallagma, and Lestes (Odonata). We tested 28 or 29 enzy mes which yielded up to 29 scorable loci; of these only six or seven w ere necessary to achieve species separation at three or more loci. The technique facilitates the search for structural characters, confirms species separation based on morphology, and allows the construction of complete life histories and life tables.