Elateridae Research Articles

Особливості формування видового складу коваликів (elateridae) у посівах соняшнику і кукурудзи в Лісостепу України

In modern conditions of agricultural development, the priority is the cultivation of corn and sunflower, focused on high-performance technology and yield, which allows you to sell goods at a high price. This is achieved by a system of measures to protect plant crops from harmful phytophagous insect species. The article analyzes the current species composition and dynamics of the number of larvae of crackers in crops and industrial crops, according to modern growing technologies. Presented long-term observations of the structure of clickers in crops of sunflower and corn in the Cherkasy and Poltava region, 2010-2018, the most common types of click beetls, Agriotes sputator L., Agriotes gurgistanus Fald. and Selatosomus latus L. The analysis of scientific research on the distribution of the pest in the forest-steppe of Ukraine. Phenology, morphology and features of biology of the studied click beetles species in the study region are described. The reproduction features of pests and their features of vertical migration in sunflower and maize crops are highlighted, depending on the influence of entomophages and changes in soil and climatic conditions. The data on the duration of the harmful effects of the larvae of click beetles in the crops of sunflower and corn. Characterized by the reaction of plants to damage the wireworm, the effectiveness of phytosanitary measures to limit the mass development of the population in modern farming systems in the forest-steppe of Ukraine. Highlights of the main provisions, the control of the number of click beetles in biological agriculture, through the qualitative and timely use of biological products, and the increase in the mechanisms of insect self-regulation in short-term crop rotations are highlighted.

RNA-Seq analysis of the bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent species of Elateridae (Coleoptera): Comparison to others photogenic and non-photogenic tissues of Elateroidea species

Bioluminescence in the superfamily Elateroidea is produced by specific light organs distributed in different parts of the body depending on the life stage and family. Whereas the luciferin-luciferase system is well known, the molecular control of bioluminescence, the biosynthetic route of luciferin, and the molecular differentiation of photogenic tissue in Elateridae remain enigmatic. With the aim to improve the knowledge about these questions, we performed the RNA-Seq analysis of lanterns and fat body of the Brazilian click beetle larvae: Pyrearinus fragilis (luminescent) and Conoderus sp. (non-luminescent) and compared the gene products contents and their abundance among these tissues. For the first time, we showed that the fat body of luminescent click beetle displays luminescence. We also analyzed some gene products expression patterns in lantern and fat body of Elateridae. Several of them, which are potentially involved with bioluminescence and its control are also found in the transcriptional profile of the firefly Aspisoma lineatum (Lampyridae) and the railroad worm Phrixothrix hirtus (Phengodidae). These gene products were observed in both lanterns and fat body of elaterid species, however with low abundance in the fat body. The results indicate that in Elateridae, the bioluminescent tissue also originated from the fat body. In P. fragilis, we observed two luciferase/luciferase-like enzymes with high abundance, one in the lantern and a different one in the fat body, indicating the possibility of two distinct isoenzymes involved in the bioluminescence in the lantern and fat body of Elateridae species, such as observed in fireflies.

Firefly genomes illuminate parallel origins of bioluminescence in beetles.

Fireflies and their luminous courtships have inspired centuries of scientific study. Today firefly luciferase is widely used in biotechnology, but the evolutionary origin of bioluminescence within beetles remains unclear. To shed light on this long-standing question, we sequenced the genomes of two firefly species that diverged over 100 million-years-ago: the North American Photinus pyralis and Japanese Aquatica lateralis. To compare bioluminescent origins, we also sequenced the genome of a related click beetle, the Caribbean Ignelater luminosus, with bioluminescent biochemistry near-identical to fireflies, but anatomically unique light organs, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis of parallel gains of bioluminescence. Our analyses support independent gains of bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles, and provide new insights into the genes, chemical defenses, and symbionts that evolved alongside their luminous lifestyle.

New records of the genus Allopygmephorus (Acari: Neopygmephoridae) with a list of the species of the family Neopygmephoridae in Iran

A survey was carried out to investigate heterostigmatic mites associated with insects in Borujerd, Lorestan province, western Iran, in 2016. Insects were captured using light traps in the areas. Two species of the family Neopygmephoridae including Allopygmephorus spinisetus Khaustov & Sazhnev, 2016 and A . punctatus Khaustov & Sazhnev, 2016 were identified associated with beetles Drasterius bimaculatus (Rossi, 1790) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and Augyles sp. (Col.: Heteroceridae). Both species are new records for mite fauna of Iran with the former being also new for Asia. Moreover, the association between mites of Allopygmephorus and elaterid beetles is new. A list of Iranian neopygmephorid mites is also provided.

Elateridae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from Tanegashima Island (Ryukyu Islands, Japan)

There are few records of beetles of the family Elateridae from Tanegashima Island, in the Ôsumi Islands, in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and the elaterid fauna of this island has not been reviewed. We examined newly collected specimens and reviewed the previous records from the island. In field work and from a colleague’s collection, we found 27 species, of which 13 were recorded for the first time on the island. As result 43 species are confirmed from this island and a checklist of all elaterid species from Tanegashima Island is provided.

Fauna of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the interfluve of Rivers Moksha and Sura, Republic of Mordovia, Russia

Ruchin AB, Egorov LV, Semishin GB. 2018. Fauna of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the interfluve of Rivers Moksha and Sura, Republic of Mordovia, Russia. Biodiversitas 19: 1352-1365. The results of the study of fauna of click beetles in the Republic of Mordovia are presented. By now, 58 species of click beetles have been recorded here. Adrastus pallens is a new record for the republic. As per the literature information, 6 species of click beetles (Agriotes pilosellus, Melanotus crassicollis, Melanotus fusciceps, Liotrichus affinis, Pseudanostirus globicollis, Stenagostus rufus) are known and these indications require confirmation. Two species (Agriotes acuminatus, Limoniscus suturalis) are excluded from the fauna. Taking into account the literary information in the fauna of Mordovia, 64 species of Elateridae are known. Agrypnus murinus, Agriotes lineatus, Agriotes obscurus, Agriotes sputator, Dalopius marginatus, Ampedus balteatus, Ampedus pomorum, Hemicrepidius niger, Athous subfuscus, Prosternon tessellatum, Selatosomus aeneus are among the mass species. A list of the species is presented, which with a high degree of probability can still be found in the republic.

Exploring the Microwilderness of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: Terrestrial Invertebrate All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory

Between 2005 and 2011, we conducted a terrestrial invertebrate All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, in order to document as many arthropod and gastropod species as possible in the park, and to understand how species were distributed across habitats and islands. Professional scientists, students, and citizen scientists collected ∼160,000 invertebrates on 19 islands and peninsulas in the park, using a variety of trapping and collecting methods. More than 76,000 of these specimens were curated, identified, and databased, resulting in a total of 1732 distinct species and morphospecies. Of these, 232 species (13.4%) were species not native to North America. The introduced species included several new US and North American records, including 2 potential pests: Hishimonus sellatus (Mulberry Leafhopper) and the click beetle Athous haemorrhoidalis. Among native species, we documented several new state records, which expanded known ranges considerably in a few cases. Statistical estimates of absolute species richness for several representative taxa indicated that less-diverse groups (e.g., millipedes) were sampled almost completely by our methods, but additional sampling is needed to thoroughly inventory more-diverse taxa (e.g., ground beetles). The invertebrate ATBI lays the groundwork for future monitoring of focal groups such as pollinators.

Comparison of Arthropod Communities among Different Forage Types on the Texas High Plains using Pitfall Traps

Core Ideas Red imported fire ants and harvester ants account for most of the arthropods found. Forage types did not differ in numbers of non‐pest and beneficial insects. Old World bluestem provided an unfavorable habitat for ants but not desirable insects. Deterrence towards deleterious ants promotes resilience of Old World bluestem The decline in water supply for irrigation in the Texas High Plains is encouraging some growers to produce dryland forages. ‘WW‐B.Dahl’ Old World bluestem [OWB, Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake] is a drought‐tolerant grass in dryland and limited‐irrigation conditions. This grass reportedly repels red imported fire ants (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta Buren); however, broader insect communities associated with OWB have not been investigated. We characterized the ground‐active arthropod community occurring in OWB, OWB‐alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), alfalfa, and native mixed grass pastures by using pitfall traps over 3 years. Forty‐seven families among 10 insect orders and five families of five non‐insect arthropod orders were collected. Beside ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), the most abundant taxa collected were ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), house flies (Diptera: Muscidae), butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and field crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), with jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) and sow bugs (Isopoda: Oniscidae) representing the non‐insect taxa. Pastures containing OWB had nearly zero (P < 0.001) RIFA and harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.), but no other arthropod family responded to forage treatments. Ant abundances were greatest in the native mix and intermediate in the alfalfa and teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] pastures. The relatively low abundances of RIFA and harvester ants in the OWB and OWB‐alfalfa mixture compared to the other forage treatments suggest that WW‐B.Dahl OWB might act to deter activity of ants, yet further studies are needed to determine the specific mechanisms and insect‐deterring traits of these forage systems to support strategies for pasture management.

Genome sequencing of Rhinorhipus Lawrence exposes an early branch of the Coleoptera

BackgroundRhinorhipidae Lawrence, 1988 is an enigmatic beetle family represented by a single species, Rhinorhipus tamborinensis Lawrence, 1988, from Australia, with poorly established affinities near the superfamily Elateroidea (click beetles, soldier beetles and fireflies) or the more inclusive series (infraorder) Elateriformia. Its evolutionary position may inform the basal relationships of the suborder Polyphaga, the largest clade of Coleoptera.ResultsWe analyzed four densely sampled DNA datasets of major coleopteran lineages for mitogenomes, rRNA genes and single copy nuclear genes. Additionally, genome sequencing was used for incorporation of R. tamborinensis into a set of 4220 orthologs for 24 terminals representing 12 polyphagan superfamilies. Topologies differed to various degrees, but all consistently refute the proposed placement of Rhinorhipidae in Elateroidea and instead indicate either sister relationships with other Elateriformia, frequently together with Nosodendridae, another divergent small family hitherto placed in Derodontoidea, or in an isolated position among the deepest lineages of Polyphaga. The phylogenomic analyses recovered Rhinorhipus in a sister position to all other Elateriformia composed of five superfamilies. Therefore, we erect the new superfamily Rhinorhipoidea Lawrence, 1988, stat. Nov., with the type-family Rhinorhipidae. The origins of the Rhinorhipidae were dated to the Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic at the very early phase of polyphagan diversification.ConclusionsThus, Rhinorhipidae adds another example to several recently recognized ancient relict lineages which are interspersed within contemporaneous hugely species-rich lineages of Coleoptera.

Establishing a Split Luciferase Assay for Proteinkinase G (PKG) Interaction Studies.

Nitric oxide (NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-regulated cellular mechanisms are involved in a variety of (patho-) physiological processes. One of the main effector molecules in this system, proteinkinase G (PKG), serves as a molecular switch by phosphorylating different target proteins and thereby turning them on or off. To date, only a few interaction partners of PKG have been described although the identification of protein–protein interactions (PPI) is indispensable for the understanding of cellular processes and diseases. Conventionally used methods to detect PPIs exhibit several disadvantages, e.g., co-immunoprecipitations, which depend on suitable high-affinity antibodies. Therefore, we established a cell-based protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA) for the identification of PKG target proteins. Here, a reporter protein (click beetle luciferase) is split into two fragments and fused to two different possible interaction partners. If interaction occurs, the reporter protein is functionally complemented and the catalyzed reaction can then be quantitatively measured. By using this technique, we confirmed the regulator of G-Protein signaling 2 (RGS2) as an interaction partner of PKGIα (a PKG-isoform) following stimulation with 8-Br-cGMP and 8-pCPT-cGMP. Hence, our results support the conclusion that the established approach could serve as a novel tool for the rapid, easy and cost-efficient detection of novel PKG target proteins.

Research on the Family Elateridae (Coleoptera) of Turkey: New Distributional Data, Female Descriptions and Distributional Evaluation

ABSTRACT Ninty-five species of Elateridae, from 30 genera and five subfamilies are documented from Turkey based on specimens collected throughout the country. Ampedus sanguineus (Linnaeus, 1758), A. sinuatus Germar, 1844; Elater ferrugineus Linnaeus, 1758; Agriotes acuminatus (Stephens, 1830); A. brevis Candeze, 1863; A. turcicus Candeze, 1863, Lacon punctatus (Herbst, 1779) and Idotarmonides anatolicus Agajev, 1985 are recorded for the first time in the Eastern Anatolian Region. Those of Cardiophorus cyanipennis Mulsant and Wachanru, 1852 and Mulsanteus guillebeaui (Mulsant and Godart, 1853) are recorded from the southeastern Anatolia region. New distribution records of the most of the species are evaluated. So that, each species show different distribution pattern; most of species are sparsely collected, the rest of examined species have moderate or widespread distributions. Some species were recorded from one or two provinces, even a single sample. They might be classified as endangered species and sho...

Identification of Sex Pheromones and Sex Pheromone Mimics for Two North American Click Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the Genus Cardiophorus Esch.

To date, all known or suspected pheromones of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) have been identified solely from species native to Europe and Asia; reports of identifications from North American species dating from the 1970s have since proven to be incorrect. While conducting bioassays of pheromones of a longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), we serendipitously discovered that males of Cardiophorus tenebrosus L. and Cardiophorus edwardsi Horn were specifically attracted to the cerambycid pheromone fuscumol acetate, (E)-6,10-dimethylundeca-5,9-dien-2-yl acetate, suggesting that this compound might also be a sex pheromone for the two Cardiophorus species. Further field bioassays and electrophysiological assays with the enantiomers of fuscumol acetate determined that males were specifically attracted by the (R)-enantiomer. However, subsequent analyses of extracts of volatiles from female C. tenebrosus and C. edwardsi showed that the females actually produced a different compound, which was identified as (3R,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyl-6,10-dodecadienoic acid methyl ester (methyl (3R,6E)-2,3-dihydrofarnesoate). In field trials, both the racemate and the (R)-enantiomer of the pheromone attracted similar numbers of male beetles, suggesting that the (S)-enantiomer was not interfering with responses to the insect-produced (R)-enantiomer. This report constitutes the first conclusive identification of sex pheromones for any North American click beetle species. Possible reasons for the strong and specific attraction of males to fuscumol acetate, which is markedly different in structure to the actual pheromone, are discussed.

Seasonal fluctuation of Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus and A. sputator click beetles caught using pheromone traps in Poland

The trap catch of Agriotes species and dynamics of the occurrence of adult click beetles using pheromone traps were determined, and the relationship between the dynamics of the caught wireworms and the placement of traps in selected agricultural crops was investigated. The study was conducted in 2011–2014 in the fields of different crops at five localities in two regions in Poland. The effectiveness of trapping the Elateridae beetles using pheromone traps varied in different localities. The results of the analysis of variance indicate statistically significant differences in the number of A. lineatus beetles only in individual years of research. On average, most individuals of this species were observed in the first year of observation (72.62), and the least – in 2012 (18.5). Statistically significant differences in the occurrence of beetles in each month were observed for all species except A. obscurus. No statistically significant differences between populations of the tested Agriotes species were observed in different localities. Their effectiveness was influenced largely by weather conditions. Pheromone traps work well and can be a part of an assessment system for the integrated pest management of Agriotes species.

Click beetle luciferase mutant and near infrared naphthyl-luciferins for improved bioluminescence imaging

The sensitivity of bioluminescence imaging in animals is primarily dependent on the amount of photons emitted by the luciferase enzyme at wavelengths greater than 620 nm where tissue penetration is high. This area of work has been dominated by firefly luciferase and its substrate, D-luciferin, due to the system’s peak emission (~ 600 nm), high signal to noise ratio, and generally favorable biodistribution of D-luciferin in mice. Here we report on the development of a codon optimized mutant of click beetle red luciferase that produces substantially more light output than firefly luciferase when the two enzymes are compared in transplanted cells within the skin of black fur mice or in deep brain. The mutant enzyme utilizes two new naphthyl-luciferin substrates to produce near infrared emission (730 nm and 743 nm). The stable luminescence signal and near infrared emission enable unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy for performing deep tissue multispectral tomography in mice.

The effects of within stand disturbance in plantation forests indicate complex and contrasting responses among and within beetle families.

Plantation forests with timber production as the major function are highly fragmented and disturbed regarding the tree species composition and stand area. Their closed canopies also have different microclimatic conditions compared with better studied conservation areas. We studied three beetle families (click, longhorn, and rove beetles) with different ecological demands in lowland plantation forests dominated by Sessile oak and Norway spruce in the Czech Republic. Our main interest was how their species richness, abundance, diversity, body length, rarity, red-list status, species composition and individual species were driven by the main tree species, stand area and canopy openness. We analyzed 3466 individuals from 198 beetle species and the results revealed complex and contrasting responses of the studied beetle families - click beetles mostly preferred sun-exposure and spruce as the dominant tree species, longhorn beetles mainly preferred large stands, whereas rove beetles were mostly influenced by oak as the dominant tree species and increasing area. We also observed that some species had different preferences in plantation forests than is known from the literature. The main conclusions of our results are that the dominance of non-natural spruce plantations and a large stand area (both originating from artificially replanted large clear-cuts) did not affect the majority of the studied taxa as we expected. On the other hand, our results might have been influenced by other factor, such as the current small total area of the former vegetation, which in the past might have led to extinction debt; or a large area of other conifers in the surroundings that might have promoted conifer-associated fauna.

Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of click beetle Agriotes hirayamai (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of click beetle Agriotes hirayamai (GenBank accession no. MG728108) was obtained using next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. hirayamai is 16,156 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs and a control region. The gene arrangement is consistent with the typical insect mitochondrial genome. Maximum likelihood tree shows that the newly sequenced A. hirayamai cluster with other two sampled species of Agriotes and the family Elateridae is monophyletic.

New species of Elateridae (Coleoptera) from Sonora, Mexico, with new country and state records, new taxonomic changes and a classificatory checklist

The click beetles (Elateridae) of Sonora, Mexico reported here are based on published historical records and recent sampling efforts in discrete Sky Island mountain ranges in the Madrean Archipelago north of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Sixty-three (63) species are listed from Sonora of which 41 are newly recorded. Anoplischius murrieta new species, Aptopus opata new species, and Aptopus purica new species are described. Aptopus allita Aranda is treated as a new synonym of A. subcarinatus Schaeffer. Conoderus texanus Candèze is removed from synonymy with C. vespertinus (F.) and reinstated as a valid species. Orthostethus caviceps Schaeffer is a new synonym of O. pectinicornis Champion. Aeolus livens (LeConte) is the senior homonym of A. livens Candèze, which is changed to A. ticuna new name. A summary checklist of recorded click beetle taxa from Sonora is provided.

Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Traps baited with synthetic pheromone components of Agriotes brevis [geranyl butanoate + (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate] captured significantly higher numbers of not only male, but also female beetles, compared to unbaited controls. Catches of both sexes showed a clear positive relationship with increasing doses. In electroantennogram tests, antennal responses of females and males to a number of known Agriotes pheromone components, identified from pheromone glands, showed a similar trend, with geranyl butanoate eliciting the strongest responses. This suggests that the female and male A. brevis antennae are similar with respect to the perception of pheromone compounds, and female beetles have the sensory capabilities to perceive the pheromone components which they produce. Addition of the plant-derived compounds (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, (Z)-3-hexenol and methyl salicylate (identified earlier from foliage as attractive for A. brevis) to the synthetic pheromone significantly increased catches. All the above results suggest that geranyl butanoate and (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate are constituents of an aggregation pheromone of A. brevis, in contrast to the general view of click beetle pheromones being “classical” sex pheromones. These findings could be useful for more precise monitoring and forecasting of damage, based on female catches.

Efficacy of Beauveria Bassiana for the Management of Economically Important Wireworm Species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Organic Farming

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetle species Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus and A. sputator are serious pests for several field crops. They are considered severe pests of potato tubers and the damages caused by them can be resulted a significant loss especially in organic crop production. Since synthetic insecticides are prohibited in Organic Farming; biological control methods have to be used in organic crop production. In the current study naturalis Beauveria bassianaa strain ATCC 74040 was used both under laboratory and field conditions using wheat and potato crops as a food source respectively. Fungus showed a significant mortality in high number of wireworms boxes (50%) compared to low number of wireworms (17%) and untreated boxes (13%) respectively. However, seed germination showed no effect in all three categories. Field data have shown mixed results when B. bassiana has been applied in a variety of application methods. Maximum infestation (3.99%) was recorded in untreated plots; while significantly lower damage (1.11%) was recorded in whole surface treated plots. During first year all the treatments were significantly different from each other; however, no significant differences were noted between furrows and whole surface applications but were different from control treatment during second year of experimentation. The results showed that the biological control of wireworms by using entomopathogenic fungi, such as B. bassiana is a promising target specific option without disturbing the other communities in the soil.

Dynamic monitoring of p53 translocation to mitochondria for the analysis of specific inhibitors using luciferase-fragment complementation.

Intracellular protein translocation plays a pivotal role in regulating complex biological processes, including cell death. The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor activated by DNA damage and oxidative stress that also translocates from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix to facilitate necrotic cell death. However, specific inhibitors of p53 mitochondrial translocation are largely unknown. To explore the inhibitors of p53, we developed a bioluminescent probe to monitor p53 translocation from cytosol to mitochondria using luciferase fragment complementation assays. The probe is composed of a novel pair of luciferase fragments, the N-terminus of green click beetle luciferase CBG68 (CBGN) and multiple-complement luciferase fragment (McLuc1). The combination of luciferase fragments showed significant luminescence intensity and high signal-to-background ratio. When the p53 connected with McLuc1 translocates from cytosol into mitochondrial matrix, CBGN in mitochondrial matrix enables to complement with McLuc1, resulting in the restoration of the luminescence. The luminescence intensity was significantly increased under hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress following the complementation of CBGN and McLuc1. Pifithrin-μ, a selective inhibitor of p53 mitochondrial translocation, prevented the mitochondrial translocation of the p53 probe in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the high luminescence intensity made it easier to visualize the p53 translocation at a single cell level under a bioluminescence microscope. This p53 mitochondrial translocation assay is a new tool for high-throughput screening to identify novel p53 inhibitors, which could be developed as drugs to treat diseases in which necrotic cell death is a major contributor.