Morphology of immature stages and notes on biology of Ocypus fulvipennis Erichson, 1840 [Coleoptera: Staphylinidae]

The paper describes and illustrates the morphology of all preimaginal stages for Ocypus fulvipennis Erichson, 1840 including a detailed account of chaetotaxy. Diagnostic characters of egg, larva and pupa of this species are given. Morphological differences between the first (L₁) and mature (L₃) larval instars cover: chaetotaxy of head, profemur, protibia, tarsungulus, abdominal tergites, paratergites, sternites, parasternites and urogomphi; structure of antenna, maxillae and urogomphi; microstructure of abdominal tergites, proportions of the body parts, body colour and habitus. Some data on its distribution and biology in the field and laboratory conditions are also provided. All immature stages of O. fulvipennis were compared with those of other members of this genus. Instead of size, following distinguishing characters are provided for respective stages: egg - tubercle simple, without projection and equatorial band medium in width; larvae (L₃) - teeth of nasale very sharp and well marked, apotome with sharply pointed apex, segment II of labial palp about 2.4 times longer than segment III; pupa - 12 setiform projections on pronotum, antennae distinctly protruding beyond apex of middle tibia, hind legs reaching ⅔ of length of 4th morphological segment.