Cetonia Aurata Research Articles

Post-Fire Coleoptera Fauna in Central Russian Forests after the 2021 Fires (Study Using Beer Traps).

Fires can significantly impact forest ecosystems. However, studies on the effects of fires on insect communities in post-fire plots in natural forests are rare. This study presents an analysis of the Coleoptera fauna in the forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia) in 2022 and 2023 after a fire. Insects were sampled from burned plots (9) in 2010 and 2021, as well as unburned (control) plots (2), and alpha diversity was compared. After processing the material, we examined a total of 12,218 Coleoptera specimens from 38 families and identified 194 species. The families Nitidulidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, and Scarabaeidae were the most abundant across all plots. Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Coccinellidae, and Scarabaeidae exhibited the greatest species diversity. In total, 17 species were found on all plots, including Cetonia aurata, Protaetia cuprea volhyniensis, Trogoderma glabrum, Carpophilus hemipterus, Epuraea biguttata, Glischrochilus grandis, Glischrochilus hortensis, Glischrochilus quadripunctatus, Soronia grisea, Pediacus depressus, Chrysanthia geniculata, Anastrangalia reyi, Leptura quadrifasciata, Leptura thoracica, Lepturalia nigripes, Rhagium mordax, and Anisandrus dispar. Only five species exhibited preferences for certain plots. Maximum abundance and species diversity were observed on unburned (control) plots. The plots where fires occurred in 2010 and 2021 had the lowest total abundance values for Coleoptera. These fires destroyed almost all potential sites for beetle settlement, feeding, breeding, and shelter. Traps recorded a higher abundance of Coleoptera in the first year after fires compared to the second year. The Coleoptera fauna showed the greatest similarity on the control plots.

Evaluation of behavioral response of Blitopertha lineolata (Fischer von Waldheim, 1824) (Coleoptera: Rutelidae) to visual and chemical cues

During field trapping of Tropinota hirta (Cetoniidae) by blue traps baited with the respective floral lure regular catches Blitopertha lineolata were recorded in an experimental field in Sofia plain, Bulgaria. In order to investigate the relative importance of chemical and visual cues on the attraction response of this species, several field tests were performed using CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps in Sofia during 2007-2009. In 2007, we evaluated the behavioral response of the adults to four variants of traps - transparent and blue unbaited traps, and transparent and blue traps baited with the lure for T. hirta. The most numerous catches of B. lineolata were recorded in blue traps independently of the presence or absence of the floral bait. In a subsequent test we compared the attractiveness of baited traps developed for cetoiid beetle species: T. hirta, Oxythyrea funesta, Cetonia aurata and Protaetia cuprea (Cetoniidae). The most numerous catches were recorded in traps for C. aurata/P. cuprea but there was no significant difference between mean catches in these traps and traps for T. hirta. The color preference of B. lineolata was evaluated comparing the colors, white, blue, yellow, fluorescent yellow or transparent of VARb3 traps without chemical lures. Results of these tests revealed that highest mean numbers of adults were recorded in the blue traps followed by the fluorescent yellow traps in 2008, and white and yellow traps in 2009. During this study, the seasonal flight of B. lineolata in the Sofia region started at the second half of May and lasted till the beginning of July in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Blue CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps can be considered as an efficient tool for detection and monitoring the seasonal flight of this species. Further research is needed to find a semiochemical attractant to B. lineolata. New distributional data for this species in Bulgaria are provided as well.

The genome sequence of the Rose Chafer, Cetonia aurata (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Cetonia aurata (the Rose Chafer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae). The genome sequence is 479.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.85 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,621 protein coding genes.

Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) Fauna of the Republic of Mordovia (Russia)

(1) Background: Beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea are one of the most important groups of Coleoptera. They are found in various ecosystems all over the world and belong to coprophagous, necrophagous, saproxylophagous, phyllophagous and rhizophagous types. The aim of the study is to describe the fauna and distribution of Scarabaeoidea in the Republic of Mordovia (central part of European Russia); (2) Methods: The study was conducted from 2003 to 2023. Collection material (specimens from 1972 and 1986) was also used. Specimens were collected using traditional Coleoptera collecting methods (manual collecting, light trap, collection of rotten remains and pitfall traps). For each observation, the coordinates, number of specimens and dates were recorded; (3) Results: The dataset contains 3198 occurrences. We examined 11,011 specimens of Scarabaeoidea. The dataset contains information on 88 species of Scarabaeoidea. Of these, five species (Aphodius pedellus, Nobius serotinus, Phaeaphodius rectus, Planolinus fasciatus and Onthophagus medius) are listed for the region for the first time. Another seven species are additionally known from others taken from the literature (but were not found during the present field survey); (4) Conclusions: Species diversity of Scarabaeoidea of Mordovia accounts for 95 species from 4 families (Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Lucanidae and Scarabaeidae). Ten species (Protaetia marmorata, Anoplotrupes stercorosus, Cetonia aurata, Protaetia cuprea volhyniensis, Oxythyrea funesta, Platycerus caraboides, Serica brunnea, Melolontha hippocastani, Trichius fasciatus and Protaetia fieberi) constitute the main population of Scarabaeoidea fauna given in the dataset. The species diversity of Scarabaeoidea of the Republic of Mordovia is roughly similar in number of species to that of neighboring or more northern regions.

ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES COMPOSITION OF PREVAILING PESTS OF Araliaceae JUSS. IN KYIV, UKRAINE

For the first time in Kyiv, Ukraine, the insect pest complex is studied of six open-ground woody plants of Araliaceae Juss. (Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim., Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. and Maxim.) S. Y. Hu., Hedera helix L., Aralia cordata Thunb., Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem., Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koizd.). We monitored collections of the three botanical gardens in the city, and qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the diversity of pests. Five insect species were found that damaged the vegetative and generative organs of plants over the vegetative season: Sciaphobus squalidus Gyll., Cteniopus flavus Scop., Aphis fabae Scop., Cetonia aurata L., Pulvinaria Targ. Four different trophic groups of insects damaged the aboveground plant parts, causing injuries to the assimilation apparatus, young shoots, buds, and generative organs, respectively. The phytophages and their impact on the plants varied depending on the species, aggressive behavior, and the plants’ reactions to injury.

Effects of trap baits and height on stag beetle and flower chafer monitoring: ecological and conservation implications

The implementation of conservation actions requires a reliable assessment of presence and/or abundance of targeted species. This is particularly difficult for rare and elusive species. In this study the use of bottle traps and the effects of two potential baits in relation to height in the trees were tested to detect presence and assess abundance of stag beetles (Lucanidae) and flower chafers (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), an important component of forest biodiversity. The study was carried out in a flood-plain forest of northern Italy. Forty-eight handcrafted traps were assigned to two height categories (1.5–2 m and 10–20 m) and three kinds of bait: (i) red wine, white wine and sugar, (ii) red wine, beer and mashed banana, (iii) no bait, as control. Fieldwork lasted 8 weeks, with 32 surveys, from May to July. Overall, we recorded 399 captures of the following species: Dorcus parallelipipedus, Lucanus cervus, Cetonia aurata, Protaetia speciosissima, P.affinis, P. morio and P. cuprea. Traps baited with red wine, white wine and sugar showed the highest detection probabilities for all the species. A clear preference for the canopy layer (traps between 10 and 20 m high) was shown by all species except for D. parallelipipedus which was mostly captured between 1.5 and 2 m of height. The study period was long enough to improve ecological knowledge on species phenology, but not enough to include the whole phenology for all of them. The method allowed the assessment of population size only for flower chafers as the number of stag beetles captures was too low.

Structural circular birefringence and dichroism quantified by differential decomposition of spectroscopic transmission Mueller matrices from Cetonia aurata.

Transmission Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry is applied to the cuticle of the beetle Cetonia aurata in the spectral range 300-1000nm. The cuticle is optically reciprocal and exhibits circular Bragg filter features for green light. By using differential decomposition of the Mueller matrix, the circular and linear birefringence as well as dichroism of the beetle cuticle are quantified. A maximum value of structural optical activity of 560°/mm is found.

Comparison and analysis of Mueller-matrix spectra from exoskeletons of blue, green and red Cetonia aurata

The exoskeleton, also called the cuticle, of specimens of the scarab beetle Cetonia aurata is a narrow-band reflector which exhibits metallic shine. Most specimens of C. aurata have a reflectance maximum in the green part of the spectrum but variations from blue–green to red–green are also found. A few specimens are also more distinct blue or red. Furthermore, the reflected light is highly polarized and at near-normal incidence near-circular left-handed polarization is observed. The polarization and color phenomena are caused by a nanostructure in the cuticle. This nanostructure can be modeled as a multilayered twisted biaxial layer from which reflection properties can be calculated. Specifically we calculate the cuticle Mueller matrix which then is fitted to Mueller matrices determined by dual-rotating compensator ellipsometry in the spectral range 400–800nm at multiple angles of incidence. This non-linear regression analysis provides structural parameters like pitch of the chiral structure as well as layer refractive index data for the different layers in the cuticle. The objective here is to compare spectra measured on C. aurata with different colors and develop a generic structural model. Generally the degree of polarization is large in the spectral region corresponding to the color of the cuticle which for the blue specimen is 400–600nm whereas for the red specimen it is 530–730nm. In these spectral ranges, the Mueller-matrix element m41 is non-zero and negative, in particular for small angles of incidence, implicating that the reflected light becomes near-circularly polarized with an ellipticity angle in the range 20°–45°.

New co‐attractants synergizing attraction of Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea to the known floral attractant

AbstractTo improve the efficiency of the known floral attractant of Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea [3‐methyl eugenol, 1‐phenylethanol and (E)‐anethol] electroantennographic tests were conducted using the antennae of both species. Among synthetic floral compounds eliciting the highest responses from the antennae, geraniol, (±)‐lavandulol and ß‐ionone, were chosen for field experiments. In field trapping tests in Hungary the addition of (±)‐lavandulol to the known attractant resulted in significantly higher catches of both scarabs than the ternary blend alone or the single compounds. Only geraniol resulted in higher catches of P. cuprea when added to the ternary attractant. The addition of ß‐ionone to the known attractant decreased catches. In further tests the addition of geraniol in the same single dispenser as the known ternary mixture plus (±)‐lavandulol did not increase catches of C. a. aurata and P. cuprea. The improved bait consisting of 3‐methyl eugenol/1‐phenylethanol/(E)‐anethol/(±)‐lavandulol described in this study is recommended for use in trapping of C. a. aurata and P. cuprea for agricultural purposes.

Mueller-matrix ellipsometry studies of optically active structures in scarab beetles

The complexity of multilayers, photonic crystals, metamaterials and other artificial materials has promoted the use of spectroscopic, variable angle, generalized and Mueller-matrix ellipsometry. Naturally occurring structures may show even higher complexity than artificial structures but with a more narrow range of constituent materials. Fascinating reflection properties result from intricate photonic structures in, for instance, the wing scales and cuticles of insects. Currently there is a large interest to explore such functional supramolecular architectures for exploitation in nanotechnology. In this study, Mueller-matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry is applied in the spectral range of 250 to 1000 nm to investigate optical response and structures of the cuticle of Scarab beetles of the Cetoniinae subfamily. The cuticle of Cetonia aurata (the rose chafer, la cetoine doree) is green with a metallic appearance and reflects left-handed circular/elliptically polarized light. It has been suggested that the polarization of this metallic gloss is caused by a helical structure in the chitinous cuticle. We find that the polarization effect is limited to the narrow spectral range 470-550 nm whereas for shorter or longer wavelengths the reflection properties are similar to those from a near-dielectric material. Model calculations and parameterization of the nanostructure employing a heliocoidal structure are discussed. As a comparison the polarization effects from light reflected from two other beetles will be presented. Coptomia laevis has a similar appearance as Cetonia aurata but has very different polarization properties. The golden Plusiotis argentiola has very interesting properties showing both left and right-handed polarization depending on incidence angle and wavelength.

Pollen grains adhere to the moist mouthparts in the flower visiting beetle Cetonia aurata (Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera)

Flower visiting beetles possess numerous structural adaptations of their mouthparts to adhere and ingest pollen grains. Using a Cryo-SEM approach the examination of the mouthparts in rapidly frozen Cetonia aurata (Scarabaeidae) indicates a previously unknown technique of pollen uptake in Coleoptera. Cryo-SEM micrographs of the mouthparts reveal a fluid covering the bristles on the buccal surface. In this way the bristles of the galeae form a wet brush which represents the primary organ of pollen uptake. The fluid improves adhesion of pollen to bristles lacking any specialized adhering surface or highly sculptured cuticle as present in other pollen feeding Coleoptera. The well developed mola region of the otherwise non-biting mandibles of C. aurata indicates that these beetles open pollen grains mechanically before ingestion. Examination of gut content demonstrated that crushed and intact pollen occur in all regions. The Cryo-SEM method represents a new approach to study functional morphology including the interaction of microstructures and fluids on cuticular surfaces of insects.

Geometry of elytra opening and closing in some beetles (Coleoptera,Polyphaga)

Elytra in beetles move actively, driven by their own muscles, only during transient opening and closing. The kinematics of these movements have been inadequately described, sometimes controversially. Our goal was a quantitative 3-D description of diverse active movements of the elytra, in terms of directions of the axes of elytra rotation. Broad opening and closing was video recorded in beetles, tethered by the mesothorax, and has been analyzed frame by frame. For tracing, small dots or straw arms were glued to the elytra. Opening and closing traces coincided. The trace of the elytron apex was a flat circular arc about the axis of abduction-adduction (AAA). The rising hemiaxis pointed contralaterad. The AAA was tilted forwards in Melolontha hippocastani, Allomyrina dichotoma and Prionus coriarius but backwards in Chalcophora mariana. In Cetonia aurata, the AAA had a low elevation and a strong backward orientation. If another elytra-fixed point was traced in addition to the apex (in M. hippocastani and P. coriarius), then secondary rotation about the sutural edge (supination on opening) occurred. Modeling of abduction-adduction revealed that the elytron rose on opening if the AAA pointed contralaterad. The more the AAA was tilted forward, the more negative was the attack angle of the open elytra. The negative attack angle was partly compensated by positive body pitch and, more effectively, by supination of the costal edge about the sutural edge. The initial stage of opening included elevation of closed elytra (by 10-12 degrees) and partition to the sides, combined with an inward turn (<2-3 degrees). Axis of rotation at this stage presumably coincided with the AAA. Movement of one elytron with respect to the opposite one at the beginning of opening followed the shallow arc convex down. The geometry of this relative movement describes the initial partition of the elytra and release of the sutural lock.

VII. On Cetonia aurata and Protaetia Bensoni.

Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of LondonVolume 28, Issue 2 p. 81-82 VII. On Cetonia aurata and Protaetia Bensoni. J. O. Westwood M.A., F.L.S., &c., J. O. Westwood M.A., F.L.S., &c.Search for more papers by this author J. O. Westwood M.A., F.L.S., &c., J. O. Westwood M.A., F.L.S., &c.Search for more papers by this author First published: June 1880 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1880.tb02022.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume28, Issue2June 1880Pages 81-82 RelatedInformation