LARVAE OF STICTONECTES BRINCK - GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS, DESCRIPTION OF S-CANARIENSIS MACHADO, AND ANALYSIS OF PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER GENERA OF THE TRIBE HYDROPORINI (COLEOPTERA, DYTISCIDAE)

Descriptions of structures of the three larval instars of Stictonectes canariensis Machado are presented. The chaetotaxy and porotaxy of the cephalic capsule, head appendages. legs, last abdominal segment, and urogomphi are discussed in detail. Within the tribe Hydroporini, the g enus Stictonectes Brink is hypothesized to constitute a monophyletic a ssemblage, along with Hygrotus Stephens, based on one synapomorphy, ab sence of the primary pore ANf on antennomere 3. This paper shows that the presence of sublateral striae on the adult pronotum should be view ed as an homoplastic character state and that it cannot be used as an argument for relating Stictonectes to either Oreodytes Seidlitz or Neo nectes J. Bulfour-Browne.