THE SCULPTURE OF ELYTRA IN SPECIESFROM THE FAMILY DYTISCIDAE (INSECTA: COLEOPTERA)AS A DIAGNOSTIC FEATURE FOR THE IDENTIFICATIONOF SUBFOSSIL MATERIAL

摘要

Three categories of the elytral sculpture in the dorsal area of 138 central European Dytiscidaespecies have been distinguished, i.e.: macrosculpture, first-degree microsculpture, and second-degree microscu-1pture. On the basis of a kind, arrangement, and quantitative proportions of eight sculpture elements (punctures,sulci, clefts, granules, areas, stripes, carinae and folds), 14 types and 39 varieties of the sculpture have beendescribed. Additionally, sexual dimorphism of and seven other types of the sculpture, not related to the sexhave been distinguished. Importance of the discussed sculpture features for the identification of the subfossilDytiscidae remains was stressed. Using the diagnostic features, a key for identification of subfossil Dytiscidaewas compiled.