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Doklady. Biochemistry and Biophysics Aug 2022The structure of the brain of the smallest coleopteran, Scydosella musawasensis Hall, 1999, is described for the first time. As in other extremely small beetles, the...
The structure of the brain of the smallest coleopteran, Scydosella musawasensis Hall, 1999, is described for the first time. As in other extremely small beetles, the brain of S. musawasensis displays signs of miniaturization: displacement to the thorax, compactization, and a small number and size of the neurons. The body size of the studied smallest beetle is similar to that of the minute hymenopteran Megaphragma, which has a nearly anucleate nervous system. However, the structure of the brain of the studied smallest beetle is similar to that of large representatives of the order and is characterized by a high number of nuclei in the brain and a significant volume of the cell body rind. The neuropil of S. musawasensis occupies 60% of the brain volume, confirming the neuropilar constant rule.
Topics: Animals; Body Size; Brain; Coleoptera; Neurons
PubMed: 36038683
DOI: 10.1134/S1607672922040068 -
Planta Aug 2016Coleoptera, the largest and the most diverse Insecta order, is characterized by multiple adaptations to plant feeding. Insect-associated microorganisms can be important... (Review)
Review
Coleoptera, the largest and the most diverse Insecta order, is characterized by multiple adaptations to plant feeding. Insect-associated microorganisms can be important mediators and modulators of interactions between insects and plants. Interactions between plants and insects are highly complex and involve multiple factors. There are various defense mechanisms initiated by plants upon attack by herbivorous insects, including the development of morphological structures and the synthesis of toxic secondary metabolites and volatiles. In turn, herbivores have adapted to feeding on plants and further sophisticated adaptations to overcome plant responses may continue to evolve. Herbivorous insects may detoxify toxic phytocompounds, sequester poisonous plant factors, and alter their own overall gene expression pattern. Moreover, insects are associated with microbes, which not only considerably affect insects, but can also modify plant defense responses to the benefit of their host. Plants are also frequently associated with endophytes, which may act as bioinsecticides. Therefore, it is very important to consider the factors influencing the interaction between plants and insects. Herbivorous insects cause considerable damage to global crop production. Coleoptera is the largest and the most diverse order in the class Insecta. In this review, various aspects of the interactions among insects, microbes, and plants are described with a focus on coleopteran species, their bacterial symbionts, and their plant hosts to demonstrate that many factors contribute to the success of coleopteran herbivory.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Biological Evolution; Coleoptera; Ecosystem; Herbivory; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plants; Symbiosis
PubMed: 27170360
DOI: 10.1007/s00425-016-2543-1 -
Zootaxa Apr 2021This study addresses the diversity of deep soil beetles on the old continental island of Madagascar. We highlight Coleoptera as the only order of insects repeatedly...
This study addresses the diversity of deep soil beetles on the old continental island of Madagascar. We highlight Coleoptera as the only order of insects repeatedly occupying the deep soil (=endogean) habitat. We describe and illustrate soil flotation technique used during our fieldwork in Madagascar in December 2019. We focus on the method's high-output and mobile technicalities. We document 51 deep soil samples, each about 20 litres in volume, taken by us in varying Malagasy localities (Andringitra, Road RN7, Ankaratra, Andasibe) and habitats (primary forest versus grassland). We provide a preliminary illustrated overview of 1,430 deep soil beetles of Madagascar sampled by us. They include representatives of Carabidae (Anillini, Reicheiina), Leiodidae, Staphylinidae (Aleocharinae, Euaesthetinae, Osoriinae, Paederinae, Pselaphinae, Scydmaeninae), Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae and Curculionidae. We emphasize the significant disparity between collecting 1,430 adult endogean beetles and only about a dozen of their larvae, all belonging to Scydmaeninae.
Topics: Animals; Biodiversity; Coleoptera; Ecosystem; Forests; Madagascar; Soil
PubMed: 33903553
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.2.4 -
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Feb 2023Cucujiformia, the largest taxon in the order Coleoptera, exhibits extraordinary morphological, ecological, and behavioral diversity. This infraorder is currently divided...
Cucujiformia, the largest taxon in the order Coleoptera, exhibits extraordinary morphological, ecological, and behavioral diversity. This infraorder is currently divided into seven superfamilies, but considerably incongruent relationships among superfamilies have been reported by recent phylogenomic studies. Here, we combined the 21 newly sequenced transcriptomes representing six superfamilies with nine previously published cucujiform genomes/transcriptomes to elucidate the phylogeny and evolution of Cucujiformia. The monophyly of each of five superfamilies were consistently supported by all phylogenetic analyses based on the twelve datasets (matrix occupancy, amino acid and nucleotide data) and the two analytical methods (maximum likelihood method and Bayesian inference). Both the amino acid datasets and the RY recoded nucleotide datasets recovered the monophyly of Cucujoidea. Topology test results statistically supported the following robust superfamily-level phylogeny in Cucujiformia: (Coccinelloidea, (Cleroidea, (Tenebrionoidea, (Cucujoidea, (Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea))))). Our divergence time analyses recovered a Permian origin of Cucujiformia and a Jurassic-Cretaceous origin of most superfamilies. The diversification of phytophagous beetles that occurred in the Cretaceous can be attributed to its co-evolution with angiosperms, supporting the hypothesis of a Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Transcriptome; Coleoptera; Bayes Theorem; Amino Acids
PubMed: 36539017
DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107679 -
Zootaxa Jul 2014The type specimens of five species of Eleodes described by Francis Walker from British Columbia, Canada, were studied in order to establish their true identity. The...
The type specimens of five species of Eleodes described by Francis Walker from British Columbia, Canada, were studied in order to establish their true identity. The synonymy of Eleodes convexicollis Walker and E. conjunctus Walker with E. obscurus (Say); that of Eleodes latiusculus Walker with E. humeralis LeConte; and that of Eleodes binotatus Walker with Eleodes hispilabris (Say) is confirmed. Eleodes subtuberculatus Walker = Eleodes parvulus Blaisdell, new synonymy, and not a synonym of E. granulatus LeConte. Only in the latter case is a Walker name senior to the name currently in use.
Topics: Animal Distribution; Animal Structures; Animals; Body Size; British Columbia; Coleoptera; Female; Male; Organ Size
PubMed: 25081472
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3835.4.9 -
Cladistics : the International Journal... Aug 2021Phylogenetic studies of Aleocharinae rove beetles, arguably one of the least known and the largest insect lineages, are compromised by its enormous taxonomic diversity....
Phylogenetic studies of Aleocharinae rove beetles, arguably one of the least known and the largest insect lineages, are compromised by its enormous taxonomic diversity. DNA, a powerful resource for phylogenetics, is not available for numerous extant aleocharine species. We provide a broad comparative morphological study of Aleocharinae to frame molecular datasets for total-evidence analyses. Using full-body dissections and slide-mounting techniques for light microscopy supplemented by scanning electron microscopy, we constructed a morphological matrix across all major taxa focused on non-inquiline tribes of Aleocharinae and outgroups. Phylogenetic analyses of this matrix concatenated with earlier published DNA loci and including exemplar taxa lacking molecular data, resolved outstanding controversies and, among other novelties, showed that: the Habrocerinae + Trichophyinae clade is sister group to Aleocharinae; Hypocyphtini are sister to the rest of the "higher Aleocharinae"; Taxicerini are sister to Aleocharini; Hoplandriini and Placusini are nested within a polyphyletic Oxypodini; Hoplandriini are sister to Meoticina; and Actocharini are nested within Liparocephalini. For the first time, morphological synapomorphies are identified for some large clades of Aleocharinae. In addition, 1252 high-resolution microphotographs of aleocharine structures are made available online with the entire matrix for future research.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Coleoptera; Phylogeny
PubMed: 34478192
DOI: 10.1111/cla.12444 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2014In most beetles, the hind wings are thin and fragile; when at rest, they are held over the back of the beetle. When the hind wing unfolds, it provides the necessary...
In most beetles, the hind wings are thin and fragile; when at rest, they are held over the back of the beetle. When the hind wing unfolds, it provides the necessary aerodynamic forces for flight. In this paper, we investigate the hydraulic mechanism of the unfolding process of the hind wings in Dorcus titanus platymelus (Oder: Coleoptera). The wing unfolding process of Dorcus titanus platymelus was examined using high speed camera sequences (400 frames/s), and the hydraulic pressure in the veins was measured with a biological pressure sensor and dynamic signal acquisition and analysis (DSA) during the expansion process. We found that the total time for the release of hydraulic pressure during wing folding is longer than the time required for unfolding. The pressure is proportional to the length of the wings and the body mass of the beetle. A retinal camera was used to investigate the fluid direction. We found that the peak pressures correspond to two main cross-folding joint expansions in the hind wing. These observations strongly suggest that blood pressure facilitates the extension of hind wings during unfolding.
Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Coleoptera; Fluorescent Dyes; Regional Blood Flow; Wings, Animal
PubMed: 24722572
DOI: 10.3390/ijms15046009 -
Archives of Dermatology Oct 2001Cantharidin, a vesicant produced by beetles in the order Coleoptera, has a long history in both folk and traditional medicine. In dermatology, topical cantharidin has... (Review)
Review
Cantharidin, a vesicant produced by beetles in the order Coleoptera, has a long history in both folk and traditional medicine. In dermatology, topical cantharidin has long been used to treat warts and molluscum. In 1962, cantharidin lost Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval owing to the failure of its manufacturers to submit data attesting to cantharidin's efficacy. However, it is expected that the FDA will soon include cantharidin on its "Bulk Substances List," which would permit physicians or pharmacists to compound cantharidin to be used in the office for individual patients. A comprehensive discussion of the origins, folk uses, current FDA status, current dermatologic uses, and effects of cantharidin poisoning has been compiled herein. No cases of systemic intoxication or scarring have been reported with the proper use of cantharidin by a physician. Cantharidin is a safe and valuable medication and should be readded to the dermatologic therapeutic armamentarium.
Topics: Animals; Cantharidin; Coleoptera; Dermatology; Drug Approval; Humans; Irritants; Medicine, Traditional; Skin Diseases; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration
PubMed: 11594862
DOI: 10.1001/archderm.137.10.1357 -
Genomics Mar 2022The subfamily Ototretinae represents an important and unusual lineage of fireflies. Here, we sequenced and annotated three mitogenomes for this subfamily, with two...
The subfamily Ototretinae represents an important and unusual lineage of fireflies. Here, we sequenced and annotated three mitogenomes for this subfamily, with two Stenocladius species and one Drilaster species as representatives. The mitogenome of Stenocladius exhibits a rearranged gene order between trnC and trnW caused by transposition, which is a novel finding in Lampyridae. Meanwhile, a long intergenic space (241 to 376 bp) exists between the two rearranged genes, and some remnants (23 bp) of trnW are present within this non-coding region. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses did not recover the monophyly of Ototretinae, in which Drilaster is shown at a basal lineage in Lampyridae, but Stenocladius seems more related to Luciolinae. Therefore, the gene rearrangement in Stenocladius is presumed to result from independent evolutionary events, suggesting that this genus should be placed in a separate lineage. Nevertheless, more representative mitogenomes from different groups are required to verify the present results.
Topics: Animals; Coleoptera; Fireflies; Gene Rearrangement; Genome, Mitochondrial; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35131472
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110305 -
Journal of Chemical Ecology Feb 2014The superfamily Scarabaeoidea comprises a large and diverse monophyletic group. Members share ancestral characteristics, but often exhibit considerable differences in... (Review)
Review
The superfamily Scarabaeoidea comprises a large and diverse monophyletic group. Members share ancestral characteristics, but often exhibit considerable differences in their ecology, physiology, or mating strategies. A large number of species are regarded as pests of crop or amenity plants, while others are beneficial to humans and even may be extremely rare as a result of anthropogenic activities. A significant number of chemical ecology-based studies have been conducted with the Scarabaeoidea in order to characterize semiochemicals influencing their behavior, such as pheromones and plant-derived allelochemicals. These may be used either to control or preserve populations of the beetles, depending upon pest or beneficial status. This paper is a review of the role and identity of the semiochemicals of the Scarabaeoidea, with comments on possible future research and applied opportunities in the field of chemical ecology.
Topics: Animals; Coleoptera; Ecology; Insect Control; Pheromones
PubMed: 24474404
DOI: 10.1007/s10886-014-0377-5