Buprestidae Research Articles

Opinion 2221 (Case 3388)Buprestis angustulaIlliger, 1803 (currentlyAgrilus angustulus, Insecta, Coleoptera): specific name given precedence over the specific nameBuprestis pavidaFabricius, 1793

The specific name Buprestis angustula Illiger, 1803 (currently Agrilus angustulus) for a widely distributed species of jewel beetle (family buprestidae) has been given precedence over its unused senior synonym Agrilus pavidus (Fabricius, 1793).

Complete mitogenome sequence of the jewel beetle, Chrysochroa fulgidissima (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the jewel beetle, Chrysochroa fulgidissima (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), from four overlapping fragments. The 15,592 bp C. fulgidissima mitogenome exhibits a gene arrangement and content identical to the most common type in insects. The start codon of the C. fulgidissima COI gene is unusual, in that no typical ATN codon is available. The 875 bp A+T-rich region is the shortest among the coleopteran mitogenomes that have thus far been sequenced in their entirety. The most unusual feature of the genome is the presence of three tRNA-like sequences within the A+T-rich region: two tRNALeu(UUR)-like sequences and one tRNAAsn-like sequence. These sequence stretches have the proper anticodon sequence and the potential to form secondary structures, but also harbor many mismatches in the stems. Phylogenetic analysis using a concatenation of 13 amino acid sequences of protein-coding genes among the available sequenced species of coleopteran superfamilies (Buprestoidea and Elateroidea belonging to the infraorder Elateriformia, and Chrysomeloidea and Tenebrioroidea belonging to the infraorder Cucujiformia) by Bayesian inference, maximum-likelihood analysis, and maximum-parsimony analysis revealed a lack of strong support for monophyletic Elateriformia.

Contribution to the knowledge of the jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) fauna of Mazandaran province of Iran

Contribution to the knowledge of the jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) fauna of Mazandaran province of Iran

Synthesis of buprestins D, E, F, G and H; structural confirmation and biological testing of acyl glucoses from jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

A chemical and enzymatic synthesis was developed for five variant buprestins termed D, E, F, G and H found in jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Selective acylation of the primary hydroxyl group of β- d-glucopyranose-1,2-bis(pyrrole-2-carboxylate) with substituted benzoic or cinnamic acid derivatives followed by deprotection gave the target compounds. Using coinjection the identity with the natural extracts was confirmed. The activity of the variant buprestins as deterrents for ants was assayed.

New Agrilus Curtis species from mistletoe in Mexico (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Agrilus andersoni Hespenheide, new species, from the genus Phoradendron and A. howdenorum Hespenheide, new species, collected on “mistletoe,” are described, illustrated, and compared to the related A. turnbowi Nelson from Texas which is also known to use the genus Phoradendron as a larval host.key words: Agrilus, Buprestidae, México, mistletoe, new species, Phoradendron, Viscaceae

Navigation to Forest Fires by Smoke and Infrared Reception: The Specialized Sensory Systems of “Fire-Loving” Beetles

ABSTRACT: “Fire-loving” (pyrophilous) beetles depend on forest fires for their reproduction. Such insects approach ongoing fires and invade the burnt area immediately. Two genera of pyrophilous jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and one species of the genus Acanthocnemus (Acanthocnemidae) show a highly pyrophilous behavior. For the long-range navigation towards a fire as well as for the short-range orientation on a freshly burnt area these beetles have special sensors for smoke and infrared (IR) radiation. In the best studied beetle, Melanophila acuminata, infrared receptors and their associated sensory neurons are derived from mechanoreceptors. Unlike other mechanosensory neurons, IR sensitive neurons directly send their information to be processed centrally (e.g., by the brain) rather than locally in their respective ganglia of origin. It is suggested that smoke-derived odors and IR information converge on descending brain neurons which, in turn, control and direct flight toward the forest fire.

New Agrilus species from Africa and Madagascar, with a view on the subgenus Personatus Curletti, 1994, in general (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

Nine new species of Afrotropical Agrilus are described: Agrilus (Personatus) oromo nov. sp. from Somalia, Agrilus (Personatus) berkwae nov. sp. from Ethiopia, Agrilus (Pantherina) uhligi nov. sp. and Agrilus (Agrilus) methneri nov. sp. from Tanzania, Agrilus (Robertius) scurra nov. sp. from Cameroon, Agrilus (Agrilus) barberoi nov. sp. and Agrilus (Agrilus) roseus nov. sp. from Madagascar, Agrilus (Agrilus) makonde nov. sp. from Mozambique, and Agrilus (Agrilus) matoposinus nov. sp. from Zimbabwe. A key to the species of the subgenus Personatus of Agrilus is presented.

A new replacement name in Lampetis Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

In the final stages of checking the nearly 3,500 manuscript pages of a new world catalogue of jewel beetles (Bellamy, in prep.), I stumbled across what is perhaps the last unresolved case of homonymy in the family Buprestidae. This note is provided to correct this now with the proposal of a replacement name.

Microfluidic photomechanic infrared receptors in a pyrophilous flat bug

Infrared (IR) receptors are so far known only in boid and crotalid snakes and in three genera of pyrophilous beetles that seek out forest fires. Pyrophilous insects can also be found in other orders, however, so it can be hypothesised that IR receptors also occur in some of these species. We investigated the pyrophilous Australian flat bug Aradus albicornis and found a small number of dome-shaped sensilla (diameter 13 microm) on the prothorax, which have previously not been described. Ultrastructural investigations revealed that the sensilla are characterised by a fluid-filled inner compartment enclosed in a round cuticular shell. The cuticular apparatus is innervated by the dendrite of a ciliary mechanoreceptor, which is fluidically coupled to the inner compartment. Electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that the sensilla respond to brief warming by red laser light or to broadband IR radiation. Depending on the radiation intensity (4.4-549 mW/cm(2) tested, threshold measured as 11.3 mW/cm(2)), first spike latencies varied between 3.4 and 7.5 ms. Thus, our findings demonstrate that A. albicornis most probably possesses photomechanic IR sensilla resembling the metathoracic IR sensilla of buprestid beetles of the genus Melanophila. In the Melanophila sensillum, IR radiation causes thermal expansion of a fluid, which rapidly deforms the dendritic membrane of a mechanosensory cell. The existence of photomechanic IR receptors in both beetles and bugs demonstrates a remarkable convergent evolution towards this particular biophysical transduction mechanism and suggests that it provides selective advantages over other possible solutions.

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

A new genus and two new species of jewel beetles are described, Andakhudukia ponomarenkoi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Metabuprestium ustkivdense sp. nov. from the lowermost Paleogene of the Amur Region. In addition, four new monotypic genera that share some features with jewel beetles are described: Cretoelaterium kazanovense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Eastern Transbaikalia and Cretopoena gratshevi gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia have been referred to the families Elateridae and Eucnemidae; Cretofalselaterium baiankhongoricum gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia and Cretogermen turonicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan have been erected for isolated elytra and placed in Coleoptera incertae sedis.

Новый вид рода Sphenoptera Dejean, 1833 из Ирана с заметками о синонимике некоторых видов подрода Sphenoptera s. str. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Новый вид рода Sphenoptera Dejean, 1833 из Ирана с заметками о синонимике некоторых видов подрода Sphenoptera s. str. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

New jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and similar beetles from the Cretaceous and Early Paleogene of Asia

Local species richness distribution at “Evolution Canyon” microsite, Mt. Carmel, Israel

We evaluated the interslope and intraslope distributions of species richness in 17 taxa representing cyanobacteria, lower plants (Agaricales, lichens, mosses), invertebrates (butterflies, grasshoppers, oribatid mites, springtails, carpet, darkling, dung, hister, jewel, and leaf beetles), vertebrates (reptiles), and two rather ecological groups (soil fungi and woody plants) at the microsite “Evolution Canyon”, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. At least seven, out of all the studied ones, showed significant differences in species richness between the “African savanna-like” south-facing slope (AS) and the “European garrigue-like” north-facing slope (ES) separated by a distance of a 100 m at the valley bottom. Four clusters representing the studied taxa could be distinguished according to inter-and intraslope species richness distributions. The “heat-dependent” taxa (reptiles, butterflies, darkling beetles) behaviourally adjust for heat gain and show a propensity for the more illuminated, drier, warmer, “AS”. Grasshoppers, carpet, and leaf beetles were more speciose at “AS” as well, but this might relate to the annual plants cover. The “humidity-dependent” taxa (soil fungi, springtails, mosses, Agaricales, woody plants, oribatid mites) share their propensity for higher environmental humidity, higher amount of water on the cooler “ES” covered by the dense Mediterranean garrigue. Except for the oribatid mites, their species richness followed a downslope trend of increasing humidity and water runoff on both slopes. Our results indicate that environmental factors related to the specific slope microclimate − mainly water and energy – should be considered as factors influencing the local distribution of species richness.

Morphological Differences between Three South African Species of Evides Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

The genus Evides Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) belongs to the family of wood-boring beetles commonly known as jewel beetles. This comparative study was undertaken on the morphological characteristics of three species from field specimens, private collections and collections at the Transvaal Museum of Natural History. The genus Evides consists of eleven species and one subspecies in total worldwide. Nine species and one subspecies are endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. One species is recorded from India and further species from Laos and Vietnam: Bellamy (World Catalogue, in prep.) The objective of the study was to quantify morphological differences between species representing the genus in South Africa. Specimens of E. gambiensis (Laporte & Gory, 1835), E. interstitialis (Obenberger, 1924) and E. pubiventris (Laporte & Gory, 1835) were collected in the Waterberg (Limpopo Province) and additional specimens of E. pubiventris were collected at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve (Gauteng Province). All three species are related, difficult to differentiate in the field and occur on the same host plants, marula (Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst.) and false marula (Lannea discolor (Sonder) Engl.). Results indicate that there are morphological differences and species can be differentiated according to elytra length, total elytron width, eye size, frons length, frons width and abdomen length.

Delayed, or prolonged, emergence of three uncommon California Buprestidae (Coleoptera)

Delayed, or prolonged, emergence of three uncommon California Buprestidae (Coleoptera)

Short-term community-level response of arthropods to group selection with seed-tree retention in a northern hardwood forest

We examined the short-term effects of group-selection harvesting with seed-tree retention on ground-dwelling and bark-dwelling arthropod communities in a northern hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Arthropods were sampled in 16 group-selection openings and 8 closed canopy reference plots. Two opening sizes were examined—radii of 0.5 (320 ± 27 m 2, n = 8) and 1.0 (1217 ± 62 m 2, n = 8) times the mean canopy height (22 m). Each opening and reference plot was centered on a single Betula alleghaniensis Britt. (yellow birch). Ground-dwelling arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps that were opened for two 1-week periods (rounds 1 and 2), and bark-dwelling arthropods were sampled with sticky traps attached to the centrally located B. alleghaniensis trees. Family-level diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods was lower in reference plots than in the openings, but the only significant difference occurred during round 2, between the matrix and large openings ( P < 0.01). During both sampling periods, the ground-dwelling community exhibited a distinct clustering of family-level composition along environmental gradients such as opening size. Families such as Staphylinidae (rove beetles) and Trombidiidae (red velvet mites) were not favored by higher canopy openness while families such as Acrididae (grasshoppers) and Lycosidae (wolf spiders) were captured more in openings than in the forest matrix. Landing rates of wood-boring insects such as Buprestidae (metallic wood-boring beetles) and Xiphydriidae (wood wasps) were significantly higher on seed trees in group-selection openings than in reference plots ( P < 0.05). Our results suggest that integrating group-selection openings within northern hardwood forests can lead to an increase in the family-level diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, at least in the short term. Furthermore, seed trees left in such openings may be more attractive to bark- and wood-boring insects, which warrants further investigation into the susceptibility of these seed trees to damage by certain insect pests.

Molecular phylogenetics of Elateriformia (Coleoptera): evolution of bioluminescence and neoteny

AbstractPhylogenetic relationships in the coleopteran Series Elateriformia (click beetles, jewel beetles, fireflies and allies) were investigated using &gt; 3800 nucleotides of partial nuclear (small and large subunit rRNA genes) and mitochondrial (large subunit rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) gene sequences. The Elateriformia includes several soft‐bodied lineages, some of which retain larviform features in the adult stage (neoteny), and several major bioluminescent groups, including the families Lampyridae (fireflies), Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae whose relationships have been contentious. All recognized superfamilies (Elateroidea, Cantharoidea, Byrrhoidea, Buprestoidea, Dascilloidea, Scirtoidea) and 28 of the 37 families, represented in 112 individuals, were included in the analysis. Sequence alignment was based on static and dynamic homology assignments and partial removal of sequences of uncertain homology. Alignment variable regions caused a great deal of uncertainty but also contributed much of the phylogenetic signal that was insufficient to resolve deep relationships when these were removed. The main features of most analyses were the monophyly of Elateroidea + Cantharoidea (= Elateroidea sensu lato), with Omethidae + Telegeusidae frequently occupying the basal node in this group; the affinities of Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea and a (broadly paraphyletic) Byrrhoidea, with unclear relationships among them; and the monophyly of Scirtoidea (including Decliniidae) as a rather distant outgroup to all others. When mapped on the resulting trees, soft‐bodied lineages were polyphyletic, contradicting the former Cantharoidea that had been united by this trait. Transitions to neoteny were either simultaneous with, or subsequent to, the origin of soft‐bodiedness in a minimum of seven lineages. The bioluminescent groups Lampyridae (including the enigmatic genus Drilaster) and the tightly allied Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae were never monophyletic. The former showed close relationship to the species‐rich, soft‐bodied families Lycidae and Cantharidae, while the latter grouped with poorly resolved lineages at the base of Elateridae (click beetles). Hence, although key features as soft‐bodiedness, neoteny and bioluminescence in Coleoptera are largely confined to the Elateriformia, they appear to result from multiple origins, showing the propensity of closely related lineages to acquire similar features independently.© The Willi Hennig Society 2007.

Prediction of spectral reflectance factor distribution of color‐shift paint finishes

AbstractAs the exterior paint colors of automobiles change the shade of color and brightness according to viewing angle, the appearance of a paint finish is expressed numerically by the reflection characteristic (i.e. reflectance) of paint surface. We figure out that the reflectance of most automotive paint finishes is best measured at the incident angle of 60° and the five aspecular angles of 10°, 18°, 28°, 40°, and 90° on the incident plane (Color Res Appl 2005;30:275–282). However, in the case of the so‐called color shift paint, which changes its paint finish appearance as a jewel beetle, depending on the light source location, the reflection characteristic can not be expressed accurately by conventional measuring methods. As the directions not included in the incident plane need to be taken into account, we have to measure at 48,139 points, changing all the incident angles and reflected angles. (It would take about 16 days.) We, therefore, tried to reduce the number of combinations of incident and reflected angles by analyzing the experimental data. Consequently, we reduced it to 1485 points (about 4 h). When we numerically compared our result to the result of all measuring points, we found that the color difference is 2.76 and therefore our method is practically usable. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 378–387, 2007

Daily activity and flight behaviour of adults of Capnodis tenebrionis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Ecological studies on the buprestid beetle Capnodis tenebrionis (Linnaeus, 1767) were carried out in the laboratory and the field. In particular, attention focussed on the effects of seven different temperatures at different times during the day on the movement and feeding activity of this beetle. Field experiments in an apricot orchard recorded the flight activity of C. tenebrionis, with particular reference to the effect of temperature and wind. The experiments highlighted the marked response of movement, feeding and flight activity to increase in temperature. The optimal temperature for feeding, movement and flight was 30°C and above with negative effects occurring at 45°C. Flight generally occurred in the middle of the day. Wind had a negative effect on flight activity. Wind speeds in excess of 4 m/s prevented the insect from taking off. The spread of this phytophagous beetle from one orchard to another is unquestionably influenced by the daily activity and flight behaviour of the adult.

Unexpected variability of millennium green: Structural color of Japanese jewel beetle resulted from thermosensitive porous organic multilayer

The Japanese jewel beetle (Chrysochroa fulgidissima) is one of the beautiful beetles showing metallic green color that is kept over a millennium. This is a typical structural color resulting from a multilayer, frequently seen in insects. It was found that the elytra unexpectedly change the color from original green to blue or red by heating at 200 degrees C or by immersing in bromoform for over 1 month. This variability implies that the multilayer consists of a thermosensitive porous material. The color change induced by heating was accompanied with elytron shrinkage; the sensitivity of the reflection peak was -0.6 nm/ degrees C in 30-65 degrees C. The porous structure was determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy; the averaged pore radius was around 0.25-0.30 nm, which is close to the size of the bromoform molecule. These features prove the thermosensitivity and porous structure of the multilayer although in unusual environments.