Description and natural history of the Costa Rican Odonata larvae. 5. Megaloprepus caerulatus (Drury, 1782) (Zygoptera, Pseudostigmatidae)

The larva is described and illustrated, and a comparison is made with the other described spp. in the family. The most useful characteristic for the separation of the different spp. is the shape of the pale spot on the tip of each caudal gill. A discussion of the morphological similarities of the phytotelmata dwellers is presented and it is noted that spp. of Zygoptera are more similar to one another and share more specialized characteristics than the Anisoptera spp. Also, the larvae of the Pseudostigmatidae are very similar to those of Coenagrionidae that breed in phytotelmata, the main differences being body size and number and shape of labial palpi teeth.