About Oxythyrea funesta (Poda, 1761)
The larva of Oxythyrea funesta lives in soil, where it feeds on plant roots and similar resources. Upon hatching, first instar larvae measure 4–5 mm in length. They have a distinct dark blue coloration and very sparse hair, traits that separate them from other related species. First instar larvae move very nimbly with sharp motions. This first developmental stage is short, lasting just over two weeks, after which larvae molt into the second instar. Second instar larvae are larger than first instars, and are more exposed to light. The third, final instar is the largest, and emerges in late summer. Pupation typically takes place in fall. Fully developed third instar larvae have a body length of 16–22 mm. The larval skull has a width of 2.11–2.55 mm and a height of 1.27–1.56 mm. It ranges from yellowish to yellowish-brown in color, is smooth, semicircular in shape, and flattened on the dorsal side. The length of the straight dorsal portion of the skull border is slightly less than one third of the skull's maximum width. On the epipharynx, the zygum bears 12–16 strong conical setae, with an additional 5–11 similar setae at their proximal base. The right chaetoparia has 45–62 setae, while the left chaetoparia has 31–45 setae. The acanthoparia has 4–8 ovate setae, with 1 or 2 elongated dorsal setae. The stridulatory region of the jaws has 15–19 transverse ridges. In the distal half-width, the distance between two adjacent ridges is between 1/3 and 1/2 of the length of one ridge; ridges in the proximal half are narrower. The apical scissor tooth of the left mandible is falcate, and is approximately two to three times larger than the subapical tooth. The transverse proximal row of setae and sensilla on the ligula contains around 8 campanulate sensilla and a small number of stout lanceolate setae. Thoracic legs bear either stout, spine-like or long hairy setae; hairy setae are always well-developed. The spiral has 11–14 holes across its diameter. The raster is monostich, formed by a single horseshoe-shaped row of 23–40 pali. The septula are broadly ovate, open posteriorly, and are almost as wide as they are long. Tegillar setae are either the same length as the pali or up to three times as long, with only a small number of longer setae present. Tegilla are fused, and are rarely setose; the average distance between two setae is about two to three times the length of a palus, and the campus is absent. The dorsal sections of the final abdominal segment are sparsely setose, with a more or less distinct circular field of sparse short setae that is often bordered by an indistinct long ring of setae.
