Ecology Of Beetles Research Articles

The role of larval substrate specialization and female oviposition in mediating species diversity of closely-related sepsid flies (Diptera: Sepsidae)

Coprophagous insect communities play a critical role in the decomposition of vertebrate dung and provide ecosystem functions fundamental to modern agriculture. While the ecology of dung beetles is rather well understood, niche differentiation in coprophagous flies is poorly studied. Sepsid flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) are a vital part of the European community of coprophages, with 6-7 widespread species of Sepsis often found co-occurring in the same pasture. To advance our ecological understanding of the mechanisms that enable species to coexist, we investigated the oviposition preferences and larval performance of 7 common species of Sepsis in the dung of different large domestic and wild mammals. Substrate preferences and subsequent performance of larvae in laboratory experiments did not vary greatly. All species did very well on cow dung, the most common substrate in Central Europe, but also on dung of horse and wild boar. In contrast, flies did not prefer or grow well in dung of red and roe deer, two of the most common wild vertebrates. Thus there were only minor differences among the species tested along the specialist-generalist (dung) gradient, indicating that differences in the choice of oviposition sites by the adults of the different fly species and larval performance do not constitute a major axis of ecological differentiation. Nevertheless, there was a positive correlation between substrate choice and larval performance indicating the preference of gravid females for particular oviposition sites is adaptive. We conclude that sepsids are common in Europe because they are well adapted to the dung of herbivorous livestock rather than wild animals. Nevertheless, specialization on particular types of dung does not define the niche of Sepsis dung flies and hence plays a minor role in mediating their species diversity.

Gut bacterial and fungal communities in ground-dwelling beetles are associated with host food habit and habitat.

Beetles (Coleoptera) have the highest species diversity among all orders, and they have diverse food habits. Gut microbes may have contributed to this diversification of food habits. Here, we identified the pattern of the relationship between ground-dwelling beetles and their gut microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) in the field. We collected 46 beetle species of five families from secondary deciduous forests and grasslands in Japan and extracted microbial DNA from whole guts for amplicon sequencing. The gut bacterial and fungal communities differed among all habitats and all food habits of their hosts (carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, and scavengers) except for the fungal communities between carnivores and scavengers. Specifically, the abundant bacterial group varied among food habits: Xanthomonadaceae were abundant in scavengers, whereas Enterobacteriaceae were abundant in carnivores and herbivores. Phylogenetically closely related beetles had phylogenetically similar communities of Enterobacteriaceae, suggesting that the community structure of this family is related to the evolutionary change in beetle ecology. One of the fungal groups, Yarrowia species, which has been reported to have a symbiotic relationship with silphid beetles, was also detected from various carnivorous beetles. Our results suggest that the symbiotic relationships between ground-dwelling beetles and these microbes are widespread.

Identification of dermestid beetle modification on Neolithic Maltese human bone: Implications for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs

Taphonomic modifications to Neolithic human skeletal remains from six rock-cut tombs in Malta has provided key information about funerary practices and the local environment. Application of microscopic analysis, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and 3D imaging of the modifications has allowed their comparison with similar examples in modern and archaeological skeletal material. The modifications are interpreted as pupal chambers and feeding damage by dermestid beetles. Based on observation of the behaviour and ecology of dermestid beetles, we suggest several scenarios for funerary practices at the Xemxija tombs which nuance our current understanding of collective burial during the late Neolithic in Malta.

A Comparison of the Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) Collecting Performance of Pitfall Traps and Burrowing Interception Traps

A method for trapping dung beetles by preventing the beetles from burrowing out of a container is described and illustrated. The trap consists of dung bait placed directly in contact with soil within a plastic container. Beetles are prevented from burrowing further into the ground by the container and become trapped. The soil with the trap is then manually inspected for the beetles trapped within. Compared to conventional pitfall traps, this method collects a higher abundance of tunnelling dung beetles. Beetles inside the trap are collected alive, which makes this trap suitable for DNA and population studies. However, while this trap is more effective with tunneler dung beetles, it is less effective for collecting roller dung beetles than conventional pitfall traps. This method has potential uses in studies of dung beetle behavior, taxonomy, and ecology.

Natural History and Ecology of Soldier Beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) in the Mexican Tropical Dry Forests.

Until today, most information about the natural history and ecology of soldier beetles came from temperate zones, mainly from Holarctic areas, while tropical regions have been poorly studied. The aim of this contribution is to compile and synthesize information concerning the natural history and ecology of Cantharidae (Coleoptera) from the Mexican tropical dry forest (TDF), to serve as a starting point for more in-depth study of the group in one of the Mexico's most endangered ecosystems. All compiled data on the family have been organized into the following topics: distributional patterns and habitat preferences, feeding behavior and host plants, and daily and seasonal activity cycles. For the first time, it was provided a list of host plants for TDF Cantharidae genera and species, and it was also observed a high ecological diversity in the phenology and behavior of TDF Cantharidae assemblages. Further research concerning cantharids and other TDF insects needs to have a more comprehensive and integrated approach toward understanding the patterns of distribution and diversity, and elucidating the role that cantharids play in ecosystems, especially in TDF, which is one of the most endangered ecosystem in the world.

Management of Western North American Bark Beetles with Semiochemicals.

We summarize the status of semiochemical-based management of the major bark beetle species in western North America. The conifer forests of this region have a long history of profound impacts by phloem-feeding bark beetles, and species such as the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and the spruce beetle (D. rufipennis) have recently undergone epic outbreaks linked to changing climate. At the same time, great strides are being made in the application of semiochemicals to the integrated pest management of bark beetles. In this review, we synthesize and interpret these recent advances in applied chemical ecology of bark beetles for scientists and land managers.

Climatic conditions for emergence and flight of mountain pine beetle: implications for long-distance dispersal

A significant shift in the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902) range has been attributed to long-distance dispersal from the observed spatiotemporal patterns of beetle infestations in the recent outbreak in western Canada. However, long-distance dispersal is still the least understood aspect of mountain pine beetle ecology. In particular, the mechanisms responsible for the three major phases of long-distance dispersal, the ascent, transport, and descent, are poorly known. In this study, we used the North American Regional Reanalysis meteorological data (1999–2010) to determine climate conditions under and above the forest canopy during mountain pine beetle emergence and flight at the landscape scale. We found that climate conditions are distinct during emergence and flight. They provide an ideal underlying environment to facilitate the potential long-distance dispersal. Climate conditions are unstable under the forest canopy during emergence, which would help loft beetles above the forest canopy to initiate long-distance dispersal. The first direct evidence from wind directions above the forest canopy suggests that atmospheric transportation of mountain pine beetle in the planetary boundary layer is aided by wind.

COMPOSITION, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, CHOROLOGY AND GENESIS OF SNOUT BEETLES OF PTOCHUS SCHOENH GENUS AND CREATION OF MAPS OF THEIR AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF DAGHESTAN

Abstract. Aim. aim of the work was to study the characteristics of the ecology, the chorology and genesis of thesnout beetles of Ptochus genus in Dagestan, as well as designing the maps of their ranges. Materials and methods . work was based on the materials of expedition and ecology-faunistic studies conducted from 1999 to 2017 in various regions of using the basic entomological methods. For mapping were used the following source materials: the database created by the authors for the study group, the map of the Republic of taken fromthe National Atlas of Russia, topographic maps from MapInfo 15.2 and maps made in Adobe Illustrator CreativeCloud. Results . characteristics of the ecology and geographic distribution of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus in have been studied; the following maps are created: The areas of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus of Dagestan and The areas of the snout beetles of Ptochus genus of the Botlikh trench of Conclusion . In the fauna of Dagestan, 7 species of Ptochus snout beetles, associated with arid steppe and semidesert landscapes,ed distribution maps and bioecological features, a hypothesis was put forward on the genesis of the study group in the territory of Dagestan.

The Ambrosia Symbiosis: From Evolutionary Ecology to Practical Management.

The ambrosia beetle-fungus farming symbiosis is more heterogeneous than previously thought. There is not one but many ambrosia symbioses. Beetle-fungus specificity is clade dependent and ranges from strict to promiscuous. Each new origin has evolved a new mycangium. The most common relationship with host trees is colonization of freshly dead tissues, but there are also parasites of living trees, vectors of pathogenic fungi, and beetles living in rotten trees with a wood-decay symbiont. Most of these strategies are driven by fungal metabolism whereas beetle ecology is evolutionarily more flexible. The ambrosia lifestyle facilitated a radiation of social strategies, from fungus thieves to eusocial species to communities assembled by attraction to fungal scent. Although over 95% of the symbiotic pairs are economically harmless, there are also three types of pest damage: tree pathogen inoculation, mass accumulation on susceptible hosts, and structural damage. Beetles able to colonize live tree tissues are most likely to become invasive pests.

Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species

Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species Fernando E. Vega. Richard W. Hofstetter (eds.) 2015; 640 pages Elsevier/Academic Press, London, UK ISBN: 978-0-124-17156-5 ![Graphic][1] Bark beetles exhibit incredible diversity and complexity in their behavior, ecology, and population dynamics. The vast majority of the 6,000-plus extant species colonize dead or dying host plants, and are important nutrient recyclers. Only about 1% of species attack and kill healthy hosts, but several of these are among the most destructive tree pests on a global and regional scale. Considering the diversity and ecological success of bark beetles, it appears that their transition, some 90–120 million years ago, from “life in the green” to “life under bark” was a beneficial lifestyle change. Other key innovations in this group include symbioses with microbes, social behavior, and unusual reproductive strategies. In Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species , 33 authors contributed their expertise, resulting in the first detailed and thorough synthesis of the biology, ecology, phylogeny, and management of bark beetles from a global perspective. Despite the multi-author format, continuity among writing styles makes the book seamless to read and the 15 chapters … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif

Bark and Ambrosia Beetles Show Different Invasion Patterns in the USA.

Non-native bark and ambrosia beetles represent a threat to forests worldwide. Their invasion patterns are, however, still unclear. Here we investigated first, if the spread of non-native bark and ambrosia beetles is a gradual or a discontinuous process; second, which are the main correlates of their community structure; third, whether those correlates correspond to those of native species. We used data on species distribution of non-native and native scolytines in the continental 48 USA states. These data were analyzed through a beta-diversity index, partitioned into species richness differences and species replacement, using Mantel correlograms and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination for identifying spatial patterns, and regression on distance matrices to test the association of climate (temperature, rainfall), forest (cover area, composition), geographical (distance), and human-related (import) variables with β-diversity components. For both non-native bark and ambrosia beetles, β-diversity was mainly composed of species richness difference than species replacement. For non-native bark beetles, a discontinuous invasion process composed of long distance jumps or multiple introduction events was apparent. Species richness differences were primarily correlated with differences in import values while temperature was the main correlate of species replacement. For non-native ambrosia beetles, a more continuous invasion process was apparent, with the pool of non-native species arriving in the coastal areas that tended to be filtered as they spread to interior portions of the continental USA. Species richness differences were mainly correlated with differences in rainfall among states, while rainfall and temperature were the main correlates of species replacement. Our study suggests that the different ecology of bark and ambrosia beetles influences their invasion process in new environments. The lower dependency that bark beetles have on climate allowed them to potentially colonize more areas within the USA, while non-native ambrosia beetles, being dependent on rainfall, are typically filtered by the environment.

New data on distribution, biology, and ecology of longhorn beetles from the area of west Tajikistan (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

New data on distribution, biology, and ecology of some little-known cerambycid species, collected in the western part of Tajikistan, are presented. Arhopalus rusticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is recorded in Tajikistan for the first time. New localities of species considered pests or invasive species such as Aeolesthes sarta (Solsky, 1871) and Xylotrechus stebbingi Gahan, 1906 are also given. The list of the taxa collected by the first author during many years of field research in Tajikistan as well as photographs of poorly known species from his collection, including some endemics, are additionally provided. Furthermore, high quality photographs of some extremely rare species that were collected during our expedition, i.e., Turkaromia gromenkoi Danilevsky, 2000 and Ropalopus nadari Pic, 1894, with images of their habitats or feeding grounds are also presented for the first time.

Morfoecología de gremios en escarabajos (Coleoptera: Passalidae) en un gradiente altitudinal en robledales de la Cordillera Oriental, Colombia

Bess beetles are important components on tropical forest dead wood nutrient cycling, since they act as direct consumers and ease the consumption by another organism (indirect). Studies of bess beetle ecology are scarce and have focused on communities responses to environmental changes on alimentary resources. We characterized the bess beetles guild composition in an elevation gradient, according to their differential use of resources (microhabitat) and morphological traits quantification (geometric and lineal), as a potential tool to improve our understanding on resource use and functional ecology of beetles. Three guilds (underbark, sapwood-heartwood and generalists feeders), five species and 198 familiar groups were recognized; their richness decreased as elevation increased. Changes in linear morphometric measures were influenced by elevation; morphogeometrical measures were not associated with the elevation gradient, only grouping at guild level were observed. Morphological markers analysis (morphometric) provided information to guild delimitation. Body and metatibiae shape contributed with the best information to guild grouping. Quantification of those structural markers proved the relationship between resource repartition, because they are involved in movement on wood galleries and wood consumption, this fact allowed to propose specific functional roles. The identified patterns have contributed on the understanding of functional processes in Passalidae communities and their role in ecosystem function.

The life and death of barn beetles: faunas from manure and stored hay inside farm buildings in northern Iceland

1. Subfossil beetle remains from archaeological sites have proven invaluable for examining past living conditions, human activities, and their impacts on landscapes and ecosystems.2. In Iceland, specific economic practices (e.g. land management and natural resource exploitation) and major historical events (i.e. colonisation, economic intensification and commercialisation, and urbanisation) have affected local environments and left recognisable traces in the beetle subfossil record.3. Understanding the ecology of synanthropic beetles is crucial if they are to be employed in high‐resolution reconstructions of past lifeways and their ecological impacts, yet, because buildings' interiors are rarely the object of systematic entomological research, the ecological requirements of many such species are poorly understood.4. A survey was conducted of live and dead beetle faunas from habitats that have so far been largely neglected by entomological research: stable manure and stored hay inside farm buildings, two key facets of a northern European pastoral economy.5. The present results clarify the ecological requirements of some under‐studied synanthropic beetles and the processes by which their exoskeletons may become incorporated into the archaeological record while also producing new records of exotic species recently introduced to Iceland.6. This paper provides crucial guidance for the interpretation of archaeological beetle assemblages and highlights the potential of further investigations of indoor insect faunas for clarifying the causes, processes, and ecological impacts of recent bio‐invasions.

Population dynamics and epidemiology of four species ofDendroctonus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae): 100 years since J.M. Swaine

AbstractAlmost 100 years have passed since J.M. Swaine, the assistant entomologist in charge of Forest Insect Investigations, wrote, “Canadian bark-beetles: a preliminary classification, with an account of the habits and means of control”. The goal was to “put into the hands of practical foresters information of inestimable practical value… to prevent the continued loss of timber now being destroyed” by “the most insidious enemies of the forest”. In this paper, we celebrate Swaine’s pioneering work by summarising the foundational aspects of his early treatise of 1918: the “general habits” of bark beetles, classifications of their behaviour, causes of population increase, and mitigation tactics. In the founding text, Swaine identified all majorDendroctonusErichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) bark beetles found in Canada, although details on life histories were scarce. We summarise current knowledge of the life histories and population dynamics of the spruce beetle,D.rufipennisKirby; the Douglas-fir beetle,D. pseudotsugaeHopkins; the eastern larch beetle,D. simplex; and address the current range expansion of mountain pine beetle,D. ponderosaeHopkins. We review how aspects of global change, such as invasive species, have altered the population dynamics of certain bark beetles. Finally, we conclude with lessons from two of the many past contributors to bark beetle ecology in Canada, J.M. Swaine and H.A. Richmond.

Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Abundance and Diversity at Nature Preserve Within Hyper-Arid Ecosystem of Arabian Peninsula

Coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) play an important ecological role in the management of grazing and cycling of nutrients within different ecosystems. Seasonal abundance, species richness, and alpha diversity of the dung beetles were investigated in Rawdhat Khorim Nature Preserve in the central Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Adult beetles were trapped using UV light traps biweekly from November 2011 to October 2012 (for a total of 24 nocturnal trap samples). A total of 2,982 dung beetles were caught, representing 22 species in nine genera belonging to the subfamilies of Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae. The total catch was dominated (58%) by Aphodius pruinosus Reitter and Aphodius wollastoni iranicus Balthasar, with the Aphodiinae constituting 94% of the total beetle richness. Most of the dung beetle species were dwellers (20 species). Aphodius luridus (F.) and Granulopsammodius plicatulus (Fairmaire) are new records for KSA. Abundance, richness, and alpha diversity of dung beetles peaked during spring. Alpha diversity increased with higher average air temperatures. Dung beetle abundance was positively correlated with the normalized difference vegetation index. Two clusters of species phenology were apparent, a summer-active group and those not active during the summer months. Our findings may enhance the understanding of dung beetle ecology in the rawdhat network within hyper-arid ecosystems of Arabian Peninsula and sustainable management of dung beetles for nutrient reincorporation through the consumption and storage of dung in the soil.

Evolutionary ecology, biogeography and conservation of water beetles in Mediterranean saline ecosystems

espanolEntre la variedad de habitats acuaticos de la cuenca Mediterranea, los ecosistemas salinos continentales se consideran particularmente raros y han sido mucho menos estudiados que otros sistemas de agua dulce. Investigaciones previas han destacado la alta singularidad ecologica y evolutiva de estos ambientes y su alto valor en terminos de conservacion, puesto que estan extremadamente amenazados e incluyen una biota muy especializada con altos grados de endemicidad y diversidad genetica. Sin embargo, hasta ahora nuestro conocimiento sobre los patrones biogeograficos y los procesos evolutivos de los linajes de estos sistemas ha sido muy escaso. Este articulo es una compilacion y resumen de los resultados principales obtenidos en varios estudios recientes desarrollados en el marco de la Tesis Doctoral de la primera autora y centrados en la diversidad de coleopteros acuaticos de las aguas continentales salinas del Mediterraneo. Se presentan distintos topicos como la evolucion de la tolerancia a la salinidad, los principales factores que afectan a la diversificacion de los linajes salinos y el uso de toda esta informacion para proporcionar datos relevantes para la conservacion de la biodiversidad acuatica salina. Finalmente, se identifican nuevos objetivos para futuros trabajos y poder asi seguir avanzando en nuestro conocimiento y conservacion de la biodiversidad salina del Mediterraneo. EnglishAmong the variety of Mediterranean aquatic habitats, inland saline ecosystems are considered particularly rare and have been much less studied than other freshwater systems. Previous research has emphasised the ecological and evolutionary singularity of these environments and their great conservation value, as they are extremely endangered and also include a highly specialised biota with a high degree of endemism and genetic diversity. However, until recently, our knowledge about the biogeographical patterns and evolutionary processes of the lineages inhabiting these particular systems has been very sparse. This paper is a compilation and summary of the principal results obtained from various recent studies that were developed in the framework of the PhD thesis of the first author and focused on the water beetle diversity of the Mediterranean inland saline waters. The evolution of salinity tolerance, the main factors driving diversification on saline lineages and the application of all this information to provide relevant data for the conservation of aquatic saline biodiversity are addressed. Finally, further objectives are identified to progress in our understanding and the conservation of Mediterranean saline biodiversity.

Predation on Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): A Literature Review

Several reviews of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) behavior and ecology, as well as numerous research reports, have either implicitely or explicitely indicated that predation on dung scarabs is rare or absent and thus of minimal or no importance to the biology of the group. This review presents 610 records of predation on dung beetles by 409 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians from around the world. The involvement of invertebrates as predators on dung scarabs is also documented. It is concluded that this data establishes predation as a potentially major factor in the evolution and current behavior and ecology of dung beetles. The data presented also represents a considerable underestimation of predation on the group. PART 1 – INTRODUCTION, HIGHLIGHTS, DISCUSSION, LITERATURE CITED

ESA Founders Pictured on the Cover

ESA Founders Pictured on the Cover

On the fauna and ecology of phytophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea) of the Trans-Volga and Cis-Ural areas

Data on the distribution and bionomics in the east of European Russia are reported for 77 species of phytophagous beetles (25 species of Chrysomelidae, 5 species of Bruchidae, 4 species of Apionidae, 1 species of Nanophyidae, and 42 species of Curculionidae). Fifty species are recorded for the first time for the forest-steppe zone of the Trans-Volga and Cis-Ural regions. Of these, 5 species (Phyllotreta procera, Aphthona kuntzei, A. franzi, Bruchidius cinerascens, Lixus canescens, Gymnetron sauromatum) and one intraspecific form of an obscure taxonomic rank (Coptocephala chalybaea chalybaea) are new to the east of European Russia. Three steppe species (Cryptocephalus halophilus, Aphthona tolli and Ceutorhynchus tesquorum) are new to the European fauna, and Cryptocephalus halophilus, previously known only from Kazakhstan and recently found in the steppe zone of the Southern Cis-Urals (Orenburg Province), is new to the Russian fauna. New host plants are reported for 25 species of beetles.