Rare Beetle Research Articles

First record of the diving beetle Ilybius pseudoneglectus (Franciscolo, 1972) in Slovakia (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae)

We present the first records of the diving beetle Ilybius pseudoneglectus (Franciscolo, 1972) from Slovakia. This species is described from Italy and Croatia and is distributed mainly along the Adriatic coast south through Montenegro to Greece. The Slovak specimens come from a flooded inland salt marsh and salt meadow biotope in a lowland near the village of Tvrdošovce (southwestern Slovakia). Laccornis kocae Ganglbauer, 1904, Helophorus micans Faldermann, 1835, and Helochares lividus (Forster, 1771) shared the same microhabitat and are other rare beetles of lowland wetlands. 

Records of new and rare beetles in Luxembourg (Insecta: Coleoptera)

Twenty species from ten different families of Coleoptera are recorded as new to the fauna of Luxembourg. Another ten species are rarely found, the most remarkable of those included being Calosoma sycophanta (Linnaeus, 1758) previously recorded for the last time in 1915.

Initial ecological change in plant and arthropod community composition after wildfires in designated areas of upland peatlands.

Wildfires are an increasing concern due to rising temperatures and incidence of droughts associated with changing climate, poor land management, and direct human interference. Most studies of the impact of fire on temperate heathland and bog examined the consequences of controlled or prescribed burning. Less is known about the impacts of uncontrolled wildfires on sites designated for their conservation value. We examined the initial impact and short-term trajectory (3.5 years) of cool temperate peatland plant and arthropod communities on designated upland sites in Northern Ireland following wildfires, that is, unplanned with respect to where and when they occur, severity, and duration. These near simultaneous wildfires were often due to a failure to control prescribed burns. Wildfires were associated with a loss of blanket bog and heath indicator species. Broad vegetation groups showed initial recovery characterized by a decrease in bare ground and increasing cover of shrub species and bryophytes. However, at a species level, Sphagnum spp and bryophyte communities, which are central to peatland ecosystem functioning, showed no sign of recovery to prefire composition. Rather, bryophyte communities became more divergent over the course of the study and were mainly characterized by increased abundance of the alien pioneer acrocarp Campylopus introflexus. Similarly, composition of arthropod communities (ground beetles and spiders) differed between burnt and unburnt areas and showed no evidence of a return to species composition in unburnt areas. The nationally rare beetle Carabus nitens was more common in the aftermath of wildfire. Synthesis. Whilst, long-term recovery was not investigated, these short-term changes suggest enduring detrimental impacts on the distinctive communities associated with peatlands, primarily through the loss of Sphagnum spp., affecting ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water and soil retention. It may not be possible to restore exact prefire species composition of plant and animal communities. We suggest a precautionary approach involving management of upland vegetation, public education, and vigilance, to prevent further wildfires and protect these key upland habitats.

Atheta (Dimetrota) knabli G. Benick, 1938 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) – a new species for the Polish fauna

In 2021, two specimens of Atheta knabli, a rare beetle species known mostly from subalpine/alpine regions in Europe, were discovered with dung-baited traps in a lowland habitat of Białowieża Forest, NE Poland. To our knowledge, this is the first record of this species for Poland and the first confirmed for a lowland habitat.

Interception of Hololepta plana (Sulzer) (Coleoptera, Histeridae) a rare beetle on poplar logs imported from Belgium

Interception of Hololepta plana (Sulzer) (Coleoptera, Histeridae) a rare beetle on poplar logs imported from Belgium

Response of Common and Rare Beetle Species to Tree Species and Vertical Stratification in a Floodplain Forest.

Simple SummaryThe vertical structure and the tree species in a forest have a strong influence on the communities of wood-inhabiting beetles. Little is known about how this influence varies between rare and common beetle species. We compared alpha and beta diversity patterns of common and rare species in the canopy of the Leipzig floodplain forest to assess their response to vertical structuring of the canopy and tree species. We assessed rarity firstly by using red list status and secondly based on the abundances of the beetle species. The understory displayed a significantly higher number of common species than the tree canopy. Conversely, the canopy harbored a higher number of rare species. The beetles’ beta diversity patterns were predominantly shaped by differences in species composition, not by differences in species richness. Vertical structure had a higher influence on the beetle communities than tree species. Both factors had a higher influence on common than on rare beetle species. Our results indicate that studies carried out in the understory alone do not allow drawing conclusions regarding the biodiversity in the forest canopy, and thus regarding the overall community structure of xylobiont beetles in the canopy.Vertical stratification and host tree species are factors with a high influence on the structure of communities of xylobiont beetles. However, little is known about how this influence varies between common and rare species. Based on estimated species richness, we compared alpha and beta diversity patterns of common and rare species in the canopy of the Leipzig floodplain forest to assess their response to vertical stratification and tree species. We used two measures of rarity: threat level in red lists and abundance based on octaves. The understory displayed a significantly higher number of common species than the canopy strata. Conversely, the canopy strata harbored a higher number of rare species. Turnover was always dominant over richness differences in beta diversity partitions. Using Raup–Crick null models and non-metric multidimensional scaling, we found that the vertical strata accounted for 19% of the overall beta diversity of common species and for 15% of the overall beta diversity of rare species. The tree species accounted for 7% of the overall beta diversity of the common species and 3% of the beta diversity of the rare species. Our results indicate that studies carried out in the understory alone do not allow drawing conclusions regarding the biodiversity in the canopy strata, and thus regarding the overall community structure of xylobiont beetles in the canopy.

Жесткокрылые (Coleoptera) в гнездах мухоловки-пеструшки Ficedula hypoleuca (Pallas, 1764) на юго-востоке Приладожья (Республика Карелия)

Invertebrates collected in the Republic of Karelia in 2016 from nests of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (Pallas, 1764) are analyzed and 516 specimens of invertebrates are identified. The vast majority of these invertebrates are Hymenoptera (ants of the genus Camponotus) – 46.6% and various beetles (Coleoptera) – 46.37%. An annotated list of 38 species of beetle from 22 families is presented. The beetle fauna of the studied European pied flycatcher nests is mixed and includes both nidicolous species and free-living species that are not directly related to nest microcenoses. The rare beetles species Melandrya dubia (Schaller, 1783) and Otho sphondyloides (Germar, 1818), were found.

Post-fire beetle succession in a biodiversity hotspot: Białowieża Primeval Forest

Fires can heavily impact forest ecosystems but fire consequences for animal communities at burned and control sites are rarely investigated in natural forests. Here we present a 10-year study of post-fire beetle succession in natural ecosystem of Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland, being a hotspot for beetle fauna. We sampled beetles at burned and unburned (control) sites and compared local alpha and regional gamma diversity between treatments and over time. In total, 27,958 individuals belonging to 630 beetle species were recorded. Average species richness (alpha diversity) and density per sample was higher in burned forest than in control sites, and this difference was especially strong in case of all species pooled and pyrophilous species, but a reverse tendency was observed in case of rare beetles. These differences between treatments, however, were disappearing over time since fire. Similarly, beetle communities occurring in burned and control sites were becoming more similar over time elapsed since fire. Gamma diversity (i.e. pooled regional species richness) was distinctly higher at burned sites compared to unburned, and the pattern was confirmed for all species, rare species and pyrophilous species. We conclude, that fire increases both alpha and gamma diversity of beetle community in natural forest and burned temperate forests left without intervention may host a rich beetle community. We propose, therefore, post-fire management should take these findings into account and consider prescribed burning as a conservation measure in Central European forests.

A first record of complete mitochondrial genome of Cryptalaus Ohira (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elateridae) based on C. yamato (Nakane)

A complete mitochondrial DNA genome of a rare click beetle, Cryptalaus yamato (Nakane), is the first reported. The genome consists of 15,882 base pairs including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 20 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and a 1279 bp long AT-rich region. The overall base composition is 69.4% AT and 30.6% GC. The maximum likelihood analysis based on nucleotide sequence data of 13 PCGs supported that C. yamato is involved in monophyletic group of Elateridae.

Mitogenome of the Monotypic GenusRhaetus(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Lucanidae)

Rhaetus westwoodi Parry (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) is the type species of monotypic genus Rhaetus Parry, which is distributed only in the region of the Eastern Himalayas. Little is known about the biology, ecology, genetics, and conservation status of this rare beetle. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of R. westwoodi was sequenced for the first time to obtain useful genetic data for this monotypic genus. Like most of known mitogenome in beetles, the mitochondrial genome of R. westwoodi is a closed circular molecule 18,134 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNAs) genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 1 control region. The nucleotide composition is 36.30% adenine (A), 31.20% thymine (T), 21.49% cytosine (C), and 11.01% glycine (G), with a highly biased AT content of 67.50%. The phylogenetic analysis showed that R. westwoodi and Hexarthrius vitalis Tsukamotoi were recovered as one clade with strong nodal support (1.00 Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography [BPP], 100% maximum likelihood bootstrap [MLB]). The topology also strongly supported that R. westwoodi appeared to be a sister species to Pseudorhaetus sinicus Boileau (1.00 BPP, 100% MLB).

Stephanopachys linearis (Kugelann, 1792) (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae) in Poland

Stephanopachyslinearis (Kugelann, 1792) belongs to the family of horned powderpost beetles (Bostrichidae), represented in the fauna of Europe by 29 native species. It is a characteristic element of the northern, boreal zone of the Palaearctic and alpine areas of central and southern Europe. This species as a rare beetle important for the European Union, has been placed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. S.linearis was described from Poland in 1792 and, after 220 years, again encountered in this country. The zoogeographical distribution is shown and elements of its biology and ecology are discussed.

The Rare North American Cerambycid Beetle Dryobius sexnotatus Shares a Novel Pyrrole Pheromone Component with Species in Asia and South America.

The compound 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1,2-propanedione ("pyrrole") is an important pheromone component of several Asian and South American species of longhorned beetles in the subfamily Cerambycinae. Here, we report the first confirmed identification of this compound as a pheromone component of a cerambycine species native to North America, the rare beetle Dryobius sexnotatus Linsley. Headspace volatiles from males contained (R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and pyrrole (ratio 1:0.13), neither of which were detected in samples from a female. A field bioassay confirmed that adults of both sexes were attracted only to the binary blend of racemic 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one plus pyrrole, and not by either compound alone. Adults of another cerambycine, Xylotrechus colonus (F.), were attracted by 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, consistent with this compound being the primary component of the pheromone of this species; attraction was not influenced by the presence of pyrrole. This study attests to the effectiveness of pheromone-baited traps in capturing rarely encountered species of cerambycids. It also provides further evidence that pyrrole represents another conserved pheromone motif within the Cerambycinae, now having been found in representatives of five cerambycid tribes from three continents.

A Novel Dual-Color Luciferase Reporter Assay for Simultaneous Detection of Estrogen and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation.

Consumers are exposed to a plethora of anthropogenic and natural substances that can act as agonists or antagonists for various transcription factors. Depending on the exposure and potency, such interactions can potentially lead to adverse health effects, particularly for substances with multiple molecular targets. The early detection of such interactions is thus of high toxicological interest. Here, we report on the development of a new cellular dual-color reporter assay that allows for time-resolved and quantitative recording of estrogen receptor (ER) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation in living cells. Both receptors are known for their ligand promiscuity. Moreover, both receptor signaling pathways are interconnected by direct protein-protein interactions as well as by shared protein factors and the competition for ligands. The assay is based on two rare beetle luciferases that emit light in the red (SLR) and green (ELuc) spectrum and that have been stably inserted into human T-47D mammary carcinoma cells. The corresponding cell line is termed "XEER" and has been successfully subjected to proof-of-principle studies using prototypical ER and AHR ligands as well as various phytochemicals, xenobiotics, and extracts from various plastic products.

Effects of off‐highway vehicles on sandy habitat critical to survival of a rare beetle

Abstract Recreational activity, including use of off‐highway vehicles, threatens a variety of rare taxa that depend on undisturbed marine beaches, freshwater shorelines, aeolian dunes and other sandy habitats. The endemic Coral Pink Sand Dunes (CPSD) tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima Rumpp) occupies a 300 × 1500 m area within a larger dune field in southwestern Utah. Our objectives were to determine the habitat required by larvae, explain why habitat is so restricted, and to quantify how off‐highway vehicles (OHVs) affected habitat. Macrohabitat characteristics (subsurface moisture, sediment grain size, compaction, vegetation cover) were not different in areas containing high beetle densities compared to those with low. Within the core area containing most beetles, larvae were found primarily in microhabitats with cohesive sand close to the surface. Compaction and moisture provide the cohesive sand required for larvae to maintain burrows during development. Compacted sand, soil moisture and vegetation supporting larval prey were largely absent in heavy OHV‐use areas. Larvae were less abundant within OHV tracks compared to non‐track areas. Apparent survival of larvae experimentally translocated to OHV tracks was lower than that of larvae translocated to non‐OHV areas. Our results show that beetles are restricted to an area where cohesive sand occurs near the surface, interspersed with sufficient vegetation to produce prey. These conditions are localised to an area where dunes migrate at a rate sustaining these conditions. Restricting OHV use from all areas where natural processes create cohesive sand covered with adequate vegetation will minimise extinction probability for the beetle.

Use of novel attraction compounds increases monitoring success of a rare beetle, Elater ferrugineus

Abstract The use of pheromones to determine distributions of rare saproxylic insects is an increasingly popular technique. Pheromones may, however, also be used to elucidate the biology of these cryptic species, a vital requirement if they are to be accurately monitored and conserved. We used non‐invasive aerial trapping to compare the effectiveness of chemicals produced by Elater ferrugineus L (Coleoptera: Elateridae), namely 7‐methyloctyl (Z)‐4‐decenoate (the female‐produced sex pheromone), and male compounds (geranyl and neryl acetone and 6‐methyl‐5‐heptene‐2‐one). The male compounds were identified using headspace analysis by solid phase micro‐extraction gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We discovered that males only produce these two compounds after having been attracted to a female, and that this serves to attract further males to a female. Such compounds do not appear to attract females but for a species that has a short activity period and is non‐feeding in the adult stage, may ensure breeding success when populations are low. By marking all beetles caught, we were able to demonstrate that recapture rate using this method is low (approximately 11% of total captures annually). Therefore, the method does not limit dispersal or breeding opportunities, making it a valuable tool for monitoring endangered saproxylic beetle species.

A newly innovated UV-Pit-Light trap efficacy for sampling beetles within oil palm plantations of various age stand types

A newly innovated UV-Pit-Light trap specific for trapping beetle species within oil palm plantations is described and the results of experiments on its efficacies that were carried out within different oil palm age stands are presented. The UV-Pit-Light trap is made of two parts: a lower located 1-L plastic collection container inserted into the ground, 6V fast recharging lead-acid battery and 4-W miniature UV-bulb attached to electronic device with wire clips, with the upper located plastic stool for the basic stand and the wide plastic basin for rain and light shield. The UV-Pit-Light trap caught significantly higher beetle specimens, which also included several morphospecies from the common beetle families found in oil palm plantations with 1.5 to 2 times higher in abundances including Nitidulidae, Curculionidae, Scarabaeidae, and Tenebrionidae. Rare beetle families of Aderidae, Cerambycidae, Histeridae, and Lagriidae, which not to be found in passive pitfall trap, were caught in considerable abundances in the UV-Pit-Light trap. The short electro-magnetic wavelengths of UV-light source included many closely packed epigeal related micro-habitats, which makes the UV-Pit-Light trap specific for sampling beetles specifically related within micro-habitats of various oil palm age stand types. The use of only four units of UV-Pit-Light trap compared with 100 units of passive pitfall trap is adequate for sampling beetle species community which includes both the common and uncommon families, and include two times higher for the most abundant and common species than the passive pitfall trap. Thus, the UV-Pit-Light trap allows accurate and unbiased diversity and ecological evaluations of beetle species and proposed to be the specific trapping system for insect species dwelling within the epigeal related micro-habitats oil palm plantations.Â

Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Cerophytidae Latreille, 1834

Diversity in Peru: 1 genus, 1 species. Recognition: This small family comprises only 22 extant species, with 17 species in the New World (Costa et al., 2003, 2014)). The common name “rare click beetles” is because of an adult clicking mechanism involving the prothorax and mesothorax like the true click beetles (Elateridae). Adults are small, 4–9 mm long, strongly convex dorsally, slightly flattened ventrally. The antennae are sexually dimorphic, being pectinate in males and serrate in females (Johnson, 2002). The larvae are whitish, have a soft, elongate body; the prognathous head has sucking mouthparts with styliform mandibles and maxillae. Habitat: Adults may be collected at light or Malaise traps, by beating dead vegetation, in leaf litter, and in rotted and fungusy wood where larvae occur. Notes: Costa et al. (2003) documented one species from Peru, a single male specimen from Ucayali (Sinchona), collected in the 1940s. Phylogenies and keys to the world genera are provided in Costa et al. (2003, 2014).

On two rare cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera) from India

On two rare cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera) from India

High-accuracy sampling of saproxylic diversity indicators at regional scales with pheromones: The case of Elater ferrugineus (Coleoptera, Elateridae)

The rare beetle Elater ferrugineus was sampled at 47 sites in the county of Östergötland, Sweden by means of pheromone-baited traps to assess its value as an indicator species for hollow oak stands rich in rare saproxylic beetle species. In addition, Osmoderma eremita was also sampled with pheromone baits. These data were then compared against species survey data collected at the same sites by pitfall and window traps. Both species co-occur with many Red Listed saproxylic beetles, with E. ferrugineus being a somewhat better indicator for the rarest species. The conservation value of a site (measured as Red List points or number of Red Listed species) increased with the number of specimens of E. ferrugineus and O. eremita caught. Accuracy of sampling by means of pheromone trapping turned out to be radically different for the two model species. E. ferrugineus traps put out during July obtained full accuracy after only 6days, whereas O. eremita traps needed to be out from early July to mid-August in order to obtain full accuracy with one trap per site. By using E. ferrugineus, or preferably both species, as indicator species, accuracy would increase and costs decrease for saproxylic biodiversity sampling, monitoring and identification of hotspots.

Importance of high quality early-successional habitats in managed forest landscapes to rare beetle species

Species adapted to early-successional forest habitats are in managed landscapes largely confined to clearcuts. To improve habitat quality on clearcuts, green tree and dead wood retention is widely applied in forestry; however, its effects on rare early-successional species have rarely been shown. We repeatedly surveyed two red-listed beetle species (Upis ceramboides and Platysoma minus) on clearcuts in a managed boreal forest landscape. We found that U. ceramboides decreased its occupancy over time while P. minus increased, indicating that red-listed species vary in their ability to successfully utilise managed habitats. We found no effect of connectivity on probability of occurrence, colonisation or extinction per clearcut. Trees retained alive improved habitat quality of clearcuts, since both species were more frequent in dead wood of such trees, in comparison to logging residues. We suggest that retention can be improved by protecting and creating dead wood as intact trees during harvesting. Rare specialist species require habitat of high quality, and consequently it is impossible to meet the requirements of these species on every clearcut. To preserve all early-successional species at a regional scale, we recommend focusing retention of green trees and dead wood to one or a few trees species on each clearcut and in each landscape.