Elateridae Larvae Research Articles

Elateriform beetle larvae preserved in about 100-million-year-old Kachin amber

Beetle larvae show high diversity in forms and ecological roles. Beetle larvae are often roughly categorised into certain larval types, for example: campodeiform, onisciform, scarabeiform, or elateriform. Larvae of the latter type are virtually absent from the fossil record. Here, we report three amber pieces from Cretaceous Kachin amber, Myanmar (about 100 million years old) that together include nine elateriform beetle larvae. One of the amber pieces has a single specimen included. The specimen is interpreted as a larva of Elateridae, the group of click beetles, possibly of the ingroup Elaterinae; yet accessible details are limited. Eight specimens within the other two amber pieces show certain similarities with larvae of Elateridae, but show significant differences in the trunk end, which bears two lobes armed with hooks in these fossils. This very specific structure is well known in modern larvae of Ptilodactylidae (toed-winged beetles). Therefore, the fossils are interpreted as larvae of Ptilodactylidae. Both types of here reported elateriform larvae represent the first fossil record of larvae of their respective groups. It is well known that larval morphology does not evolve in concert with adult morphology, and a modern-type morphology of the one may precede that of the other. Hence, the new fossils are important indicators of the appearance of the modern larval morphologies of their respective lineages. We also briefly discuss the fossil record of larvae of Elateriformia (of which Elateridae and Ptilodactylidae are ingroups) in general.

Impact of No-Tillage on Soil Invertebrate Communities in the Southern Forest Steppe of West Siberia: Preliminary Research

The aim of our study is to assess changes in soil macroinvertebrate biodiversity when conventional tillage (CT) is replaced by no-tillage (NT) in agroecosystems of the southern part of the West Siberian forest steppe. The research was conducted in the Novosibirsk region at the end of May 2017, May 2018, and in June 2018. The agricultural plots with CT and NT were located close to each other on identical soils, at a distance of about 200 m from the nearest forest shelterbelts. NT technology has been applied on the experimental plot since 2007. Sampling of invertebrates was conducted in two ways, namely soil sampling and pitfall trapping. The majority of basic physicochemical properties of soil were the same or similar between the CT and NT plots. However, depending on the type of tillage, different soil invertebrate communities had already developed in the control (CT) and experimental (NT) plots during this time. The community of the CT plot includes a large number of flying predatory Carabidae species typical of early successional stages (such as Bembidion properans and B. quadrimaculatum, Poecilus spp.) and phytophages, i.e., larvae of Elateridae. The NT plot has significantly higher density and species richness of earthworms (Eisenia nordenskioldi and synanthropic E. fetida in the NT plot versus one individual of E. nordenskioldi in the CT plot). The NT plot has a significantly richer and more abundant assemblage of spiders (especially in spring) and a poor assemblage of insect predators (except for the superdominant ground beetle Poecilus cupreus and the subdominant P. versicolor in summer 2018). Large numbers of larvae of some carabids (e.g., Amara consularis) were found in the NT soil, suggesting that they complete a full life cycle in this habitat.

Investigation of the species composition and harmfulness of dominant phytophages of onions in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The research is aimed at studying the species composition, dynamics of the number and harmfulness of dominant pests, which is extremely important for the development and improvement of elements of the onion protection system. After all, the analysis of literature sources showed insufficient information about the distribution and harmfulness of the main phytophages under modern conditions of growing onions in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
 We conducted the monitoring of the phytosanitary condition of onion crops during 2017–2020 and determined the species composition of dominant phytophages. We studied the complex of soil pests: larvae of Melolontha sp., the population density of which over the years of research was 0.8–2.5 specimens/m2, larvae of Elateridae sp., or click beetles (wireworms) – 0.9–2.2 specimens/m2 and Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa L. – 2.5 specimens/m2. Dominant species of phytophages in onion crops included onion fly (Delia Antigua Mg.), onion thrips (Trips tabaci Lind.), and Ceuthorrhynchus jakovlevi Schultze.
 The four most vulnerable phases of growth and development of onions before colonization and damage by major phytophages were identified:
 1) phase of leaf development (a primary shoot) (ВВСН 1–19);
 2) phase of the beginning of thickening of leaf base – bulb formation (ВВСН 41–43);
 3) phase of bulb formation – beginning of leaf splitting (ВВСН 45–47);
 4) phase of the completion of growth and development (state of physiological rest) (ВВСН 48–49)

Ophiocordyceps stylophora (Ophiocordycipitaceae) in Poland: new localities and host species

<em>Ophiocordyceps stylophora</em>, a rare fungus species in Europe, was first recorded in one locality in Poland in 2011. This paper concerns 33 specimens found between 2011 and 2015 in 23 new localities in five areas. Amongst the described specimens, one was found on the Tenebrionidae beetle, and others grew on Elateridae larvae. For the first time, Tenebrionidae larvae have been observed as hosts of <em>O. stylophora</em>. Five new positions have been located in the southern part of Poland in the area of Oszast and Reberce nature reserves, Babia Góra and Roztocze national parks, and one has been found in the northern part of Poland, in the Elbląg Upland Landscape Park.

Piña (Ananas comosus L. Merr) sembrada en labranza mínima y labranza convencional en San Carlos, Costa Rica.

The establishment and development of apineapple cultivation sowed in minimum tillage andconventional tillage was evaluated in San Carlos, Costa Rica.The work carried out consisted of a description of thepreparation of the land, and an analysis of organic matter,microorganisms and arthropods, nematodes, and mortality ofplants; an analysis of production costs was also made. Theconventional preparation of soil was carried out between fourand five months after paraquat application, while inminimum tillage the time preparation of soil was of twomonths after herbicide application. Also, in minimum tillagethe residues of the previous plantation deposited in theinternal streets can serve as a source of inoculum of pests anddiseases, besides hindering the drainage. The population ofmicroorganisms (bacterias, actinos and fungi) was higher inminimum tillage. In the analysis of arthropods, theconventional tillage showed higher populations of Oribatidaand Collembola, while in minimum tillage there was a largerpopulation of mites and larvae of Elateridae; the populationof Scarabeidae was similar in both tillage systems. Thepopulation of nematodes in soils and roots was also relativelylow. The main cause of plant mortality was due to diseasesknown as “rots” caused by the complex Phytophthora-Erwinia; but the incidence was low in both tillage systems.No significant differences were observed in plant heighteither. The costs of preparation of the land in minimumtillage were 50 % lower than those of the conventional tillage.

Diet of the cloud forest shrew Cryptotis meridensis (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Venezuelan Andes

Diaz de Pascual A. and De Ascengao A. A. 2000. Diet of the cloud forest shrew Cryptotis meridensis (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Venezuelan Andes. Acta Theriologica 45: 13-24. The diet of Cryptotis meridensis Thomas, 1898 was studied by analysing stomach contents of 55 shrews collected by pitfall trapping in the cloud forest of Monte Zerpa, Merida, Venezuela. The aims of the study were to describe the diet of this unknown tropical species and test the prediction that this species should be more of a subterranean feeder according to its morphological adaptations. The diet was composed of 35 different prey taxa distributed in six invertebrate classes (Gastropoda, Annelida, Arachnida, Crustacea, Myriapoda and Insecta). The most important components of the diet were hypogeal invertebrates: Oligochaeta, Gastropoda, Theraposidae, Isopoda, Scolopendridae, Phasmatidae, Blatiidae, Lepidoptera larvae and pupae, Diptera larvae, adult Carabidae, Staphilinidae, Elateridae larvae, Passalidae and Scarabaeidae larvae. Their contribution was 69.44% of the overall diet composition. Oligochaeta were the most frequent prey. Ephigeal invertebrates (Lycosidae, Acrididae, Gryllidae, adult Scarabaeidae and Lycosidae) accounted for only 27.24%. The preferences for soil invertebrates found in this study confirmed our prediction that C. meridensis uses mostly a subterranean foraging mode in accord with its morphological adaptations similar to other shrews in temperate habitats.

Pacific scarabaeidae and elateridae (coleoptera) of agricultural significance

Results of the F.A.O./U.N.D.P. Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific are summarised for Scarabaeidae and Elateridae. The information relates especially to Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. The most serious pests, the life stages causing damage and the crops they affect are as follows. Scarabaeidae: Oryctes rhinoceros —adult, coconut; Adoretus versutus — adult, vegetables, coffee, ornamentals; Papuana huebneri —adult, taro and other root crops, banana. Elateridae: Propsephus tongaensis, P. hawaiiensis, Propsephus spp. — larvae, root crops and roots of vegetables, banana, sugar cane. Further assessment of the agricultural significance of other species and of the larvae of Adoretus versutus is needed. Also, further taxonomic research, especially on larvae of Elateridae, is required.

THE INSECT AND OTHER INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF ARABLE LAND AT ROTHAMSTED1

1. Samples of soil were taken from two of the plots at the Rothamsted Experimental Farm and all insects and other invertebrates were recorded together with the approximate depths at which they occurred. One of these plots (plot 2) has received 14 tons of farmyard manure per acre per annum since 1843; the other (plot 3) has received no manure of any kind since 1839. This difference in treatment had a very marked effect on the number of insects present. Twenty-three samples of soil were examined from each plot, each sample being a cube 9 times 9 × 9 inches. The soil in each sample was removed in five layers, so that it was possible to determine the approximate depth at which the specimens occurred. There were, in round numbers, 15,100,000 invertebrates per acre, of which 7,720,000 per acre were insects, in plot 2, and 4,950,000 invertebrates per acre, of which 2,470,000 per acre were insects, in plot 3. The greatest number, both of insects and of other invertebrates, occurred in the upper three inches of the soil, but some species were found in larger numbers at a greater depth, the greatest number of Elateridae larvae being found at a depth of five to seven inches, and of Symphyla at a depth of seven to nine inches. Some species, such as the larvae of Chironomidae and Trichocera, were practically confined to the plot which had received farmyard manure, plot 2, while other species, such as the Collembola, Onychiurus ambulant and O. fumctarius, although they occurred in both plots, were considerably more numerous in plot 2. Injurious insects, such as the larvae of Elateridae, Tipulidae and Hepialidae, appeared to be little affected by the different manurial treatment of the two plots, and occurred in practically equal numbers in the two plots. Although 198,653 and 164,983 Elateridae larvae per acre occurred in plots 2 and 3 respectively, they did not produce any appreciable effect on the crop. An attempt was made to estimate the amount of nitrogen contained in the bodies of the soil fauna, and it was found to be 7349.6 gm. or 16.2 lbs. and 3409.2 gm. or 7.5 lbs. in plots 2 and 3 respectively. It is unlikely that there is any appreciable loss of nitrogen from the soil due to the migration of winged members of the fauna. The worms, insects and insect larvae are beneficial in loosening the soil and facilitating aeration and drainage. The net results of these observations show that, although the introduction of farmyard manure greatly increases the invertebrate population of the soil, the latter organisms are saprophagous and are not directly injurious to the growing crop. Such injurious organisms as are present occur in approximately equal numbers whether the land be manured or not. The most notable exception to this generalisation is met with in the Diplopoda, whose numbers are increased by about 200 per cent in the manured plot.

Notes on Luminous Larvae of Elateridae

Notes on Luminous Larvae of Elateridae