Abstract
Simple SummaryMeloidae, also called blister beetles, are known to actively produce cantharidin, a toxic terpene with a defensive function that is released externally by reflex bleeding, and that is also stored in large quantities in the male accessory glands. These glands are involved in the transfer of terpene from males to females, which receive cantharidin via spermatophores as a nuptial gift to be used for their own protection and that of the eggs. However, it is still debated whether the male accessory glands can actively produce the terpene or if they only mediate its transfer, since neither the cantharidin-producing organ nor the metabolic pathway are known to date. The focus of the work is to analyze comparatively the accessory glands of males in representative Meloidae species to provide morphological evidences that can contribute to this debate. The results highlight the complexity of the accessory gland system, consisting of three different types of glands that are highly variable between species with the exception of one, which remains conserved even in independent phyletic lines. This gland is a good candidate for hypothesizing a direct role in cantharidin production and/or concentration.Members of the family Meloidae are known to produce cantharidin, a highly toxic monoterpene found in their hemolymph and exuded as droplets capable of deterring many predators. As a nuptial gift, males transfer large amounts of cantharidin to females via a spermatophore, which is formed by specific accessory glands containing high concentrations of this terpene. Using light, electron and ion beam microscopy, the ultrastructural features of the three pairs of male accessory glands as well as the glandular part of the vasa deferentia were comparatively investigated in seven species of blister beetles belonging to five different tribes and two subfamilies. All gland pairs examined share common features such as mesodermal derivation, the presence of muscle sheath, a developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, abundant mitochondria, secretory vesicles, and microvillated apical membranes. Within the same species, glands exhibit distinctive features, suggesting that each pair is responsible for the formation of a specific substance. The vasa deferentia, while showing many similarities within the family, often exhibit features unique to each of the individual species investigated, whereas the accessory glands of the first and second pairs display the highest degree of ultrastructural variability. A comparison across the species shows an interesting constancy limited to ultrastructural features in the third pair of accessory glands. The similarities and differences among the species are discussed in the light of the available literature and in relation to the potential role that blister beetles’ male accessory glands could play in the storage and management of cantharidin.
Highlights
Meloidae is a beetle family that includes 130 genera and about 3000 species distributed in temperate and tropical regions all over the world [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The members of this family represent a paradigmatic example of hypermetamorphosis, showing a succession of larval instars that are functionally and morphologically different from each other [7,8,9,10]. These striking differences are mostly aimed at reaching and exploiting the host’s resources, in the case of parasitic species of Apoidea, or at finding grasshoppers Ootecae to feed on the eggs, for the predatory species of Orthoptera, such as several Mylabrini and Epicauta Dejean, 1834 species that exploit locust egg-pods in their juvenile stages. As suggested by their common name, blister beetles, these insects are well known and popularly recognized for having a blistering action, which is due to their ability to synthesize and internally store high amounts of cantharidin [11,12,13,14], a monoterpene which is highly toxic to many animals and that blister beetles release externally through reflex bleeding as a hemolymphatic exudate
It is noteworthy that cantharidin is not exclusively produced by blister beetles but is synthesized ex-novo by beetles belonging to the family Oedemeridae [17,18]
Summary
Meloidae is a beetle family that includes 130 genera and about 3000 species distributed in temperate and tropical regions all over the world [1,2,3,4,5,6]. These striking differences are mostly aimed at reaching and exploiting the host’s resources, in the case of parasitic species of Apoidea, or at finding grasshoppers Ootecae to feed on the eggs, for the predatory species of Orthoptera, such as several Mylabrini and Epicauta Dejean, 1834 species that exploit locust egg-pods in their juvenile stages As suggested by their common name, blister beetles, these insects are well known and popularly recognized for having a blistering action, which is due to their ability to synthesize and internally store high amounts of cantharidin [11,12,13,14], a monoterpene which is highly toxic to many animals and that blister beetles release externally through reflex bleeding as a hemolymphatic exudate. Together with its derivatives, cantharidin is being considered as an alternative compound for anti-cancer treatments [25,26,27,28,29]
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