Larval stages of Podaena latipalpis from New Zealand and phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily Orchymontiinae based on larval characters (Insecta: Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)

The three larval stages of Podaena latipalpis Ordish, 1984 are fully described and illustrated, including a detailed account of chaetotaxy and porotaxy. Morphological characters to distinguish the three larval stages of P. latipalpis from each other and from other known hydraenid larvae are given, as well as a key to identify the three larval stages. A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships, based on larval characters, between P. latipalpis (subfamily Orchymontiinae) and members of two other hydraenid subfamilies with described larvae (Hydraeninae and Ochthebiinae) is presented. Twenty-two larval characters were used for the cladistic analysis; character polarity was based on outgroup comparison using the coleopteran families Ptiliidae, Leiodidae, and Staphylinidae (subfamily Aleocharinae) as out-groups. This analysis supports a close phylogenetic relationship between P. latipalpis and members of the subfamily Hydraeninae.