Larval development of the barnacle Ibla cumingi (Cirripedia: Pendunculata: Iblidae) reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Larvae of Ibla cumingi from Daya Bay, China were cultured in the laboratory. Larval development includes six naupliar stages and a non-feeding cypris stage following the ground patterns of cirripeds. Larvae reached the cypris stage in nine days at ∼25°C after hatching. Morphological features including the cephalic shield, frontal horns, labrum, abdominal process, antennules, antennae and mandibles in all nauplii were described and illustrated using light microscopy. A full morphological description of cyprid larvae was provided using scanning electron microscopy. Attempts were made to compare the difference between the larval development model of I. cumingi and that of Ibla species.