Abstract
Stridulatory organs in the myrmecophilous carabid beetle tribe Paussini have long been recognized and used as a defining character of some genera and higher level taxa, however their morphology has only roughly been described. Here, we describe the fine morphology of Paussini stridulatory organs using scanning electron (SeM) and focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy. Within this tribe, there are three types of stridulatory organs, each with different positions of the scraper (plectrum) and file (pars stridens). type I (abdomen-femur type) is located on the abdomen (scraper) and metafemur (file) in the subtribe Paussina (sensu Geiselhardt et al., 2007, Naturwissenschaften 94: 871-894). type II (thorax-femur type) and ype III (femur-thorax type) are located on the mesothorax and mesofemur in two different genera of the subtribe Platyrhopalina, however in Euplatyrhopalus the scraper is located on the mesothorax and the file is located on the mesofemur (t ype II), whereas in the genus Platyrhopalopsis the structures are reversed in that the file is located on the mesothorax and the scaper is located on the mesofemur (t ype III). the independent evolution of three types of stridula tory organs in three lineages of Paussini suggests that acoustical communication has played an important role in the evolution of ant nest beetles. While the roles of stridulation in this group remain speculative, we verified that all three types of stridulatory organs are present in both sexes and are similar to stridulatory organs known in their host ants which also use stridulation as a method of com munication. We discuss the possibility that the beetles' stridulation could (1) facilitate their exploitation of ant colonies, and (2) be involved in mate recognition and courtship.
Highlights
IntroductionStridulatory organs are known in adults and larvae from 30 beetle families (see Wessel, 2006 for an updated review), with at least 20 different, independently evolved types in both Adephaga (especially Hygrobiidae, Dytiscidae and Carabidae) and Polyphaga (especially Staphyliniformia, Scarabaeiformia, Bostrichiformia and Cucujiformia)
Stridulatory organs are known in adults and larvae from 30 beetle families, with at least 20 different, independently evolved types in both Adephaga and Polyphaga
Following the classification of Luna de Carvalho (1953), we describe three basic types of stridulatory organs in the tribe Paussini, hereafter called Type I, Type II and Type III, based on the position of the scraper and the file
Summary
Stridulatory organs are known in adults and larvae from 30 beetle families (see Wessel, 2006 for an updated review), with at least 20 different, independently evolved types in both Adephaga (especially Hygrobiidae, Dytiscidae and Carabidae) and Polyphaga (especially Staphyliniformia, Scarabaeiformia, Bostrichiformia and Cucujiformia). Stri dulation in beetles is produced by an amazing diversity of cuticular structures, involving a wide range of body parts and hypothesized functions (Schiödte, 1874; Gahan, 1900; Arrow, 1904, 1942; Wessel, 2006). Stridulation in beetles most likely has different functions in different species and can involve both intraand inter-specific signalling. More recent work indicates that stridulation plays additional roles, especially in startling behaviors, signaling distress and deterring predators (e.g. advertising unprofitability) (Dumortier, 1963; Claridge, 1974; Bauer, 1976; Masters, 1979, 1980; Lewis & Cane, 1990; Schmitt & Traue, 1990; Riede & Stueben, 2000), and in ag gregating conspecifics in subsocial species (Niemits, 1972; Schuster, 1983). A few cases of acoustical mimicry have been reported whereby profitable species produce stridula tions similar to the sounds of unprofitable species (e.g. Sil phidae mimicking Bombus bees, see Lane & Rothschild, 1965)
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