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In 2009, we determined the effects of the enantiomeric composition of the kairomone, α-pinene, on trap catches of arboreal beetles (Coleoptera) in stands of eastern pine trees with resin dominated by (+)-α-pinene. We hypothesized that the responses of beetles would correlate with the predominant enantiomer of α-pinene found in host pines. Lures of (+)-, racemic (±), and (−)-α-pinene were added separately to ethanol-baited multiple-funnel traps. Species such as Monarthrum mali (Fitch), Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier), Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff), and Pachylobius picivorus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) showed a preference for traps co-baited with (–)-α-pinene. α-Pinene enhanced attraction of Hylastes salebrosus Eichhoff, Hylastes porculus Erickson and Hylastes tenuis Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to ethanol-baited traps with no effects from enantiomeric composition of α-pinene. The attraction of the ambrosia beetles, Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) and Dryoxylon onoharaense (Murayama) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to ethanol-baited traps was interrupted by the addition of α-pinene, regardless of enantiomeric composition. Species such as Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford), Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford) and Stenoscelis brevis (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were unaffected by the presence of α-pinene. Trap catches of some species of longhorn beetles and bark beetle predators (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Elateridae, Histeridae, and Trogossitidae) were increased by the addition of α-pinene, although results varied by location. Platysoma spp. (Coleoptera: Histeridae) showed a marked preference for traps co-baited with (+)-α-pinene in Florida and Georgia. In summary, we found that the enantiomeric composition of α-pinene in hosts was not a good predictor of enantiomeric preferences by beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant threat to tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in Florida, USA, since its invasion in 2017. As a regulated pest in the state, early detection is crucial. Based on the success of pheromone-based monitoring programs for other weevil pests, such as the boll weevil, cranberry weevil, and pepper weevil, this study explores the potential use of these pheromone lures for early detection of HBW. To account for differences in efficacy based on trap color, height, and design, different pheromone lure sizes (4 mm, 10 mm, full-size), trap types (Yellow sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, Boll weevil trap), and heights (0 m, 1.1 m) were also tested in this study. In laboratory assays, males and females exhibited higher attraction to full-size cranberry weevil lure discs than other lure size-type combinations. In semi-field trials, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more weevils than Japanese beetle or boll weevil traps baited with cranberry weevil lures, while trap height did not influence HBW capture. In semi-field, 4-choice bioassays, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more HBW compared to yellow sticky traps baited with pepper weevil, boll weevil, or unbaited traps. Further research is required to thoroughly evaluate the cranberry weevil lure's efficacy in capturing HBW. Our study suggests the potential for utilizing yellow sticky traps baited with lures for early HBW detection and highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate lure, trap type, and height for optimal efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of male dimorphism has seen numerous statistical advances. Packard has recently criticized a widely used method, reanalyzing data from beetles and harvestmen using an alternative method. We disagree with Packard conclusions, probably due to different implicit definitions of male dimorphism. We consider that male dimorphism manifests in a distribution when it is significantly better described by a model with two values of central tendency (bimodality), rather than a model with only one (unimodality). Thus, while Packard suggests sigmoid allometries as alternatives to male dimorphism, we argue that such allometries are manifestations of mechanisms that generate bimodal distributions. Instead of focusing on this dichotomy, we propose an approach to test whether bimodality in a trait simply arises from its allometry by: (1) characterizing the trait static allometry, (2) simulating body size values based on original data parameters, and (3) generating new trait sizes using the static allometries. The percentage of simulations generating equal or greater bimodality than the data represents the likelihood that the bimodality can be explained by the allometry alone. Our method offers a null model linking sigmoid allometries and bimodal distributions, providing a test for mechanisms that accentuate trait bimodality beyond what the trait allometry generates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the maxillary mouthparts of longicorn beetles, four types of bionic cutters were designed in this research to address the prevalent issues of high cutting resistance and severe stubble damage encountered during alfalfa harvesting. Finite element simulation was utilized to assess the structural integrity and cutting performance of these bionic cutters. Additionally, bench tests were conducted on a homemade stem-cutting force measurement and control rig to evaluate their effectiveness. The results indicated: (1) the bionic cutters achieved a reduction in maximum equivalent force ranging from 20.9% to 49.2% and a decrease in maximum deformation from 31.4% to 64.1% compared to conventional cutters; (2) the maximum cutting resistance of alfalfa stems was reduced by 28.6%, 43.9%, 52.4%, and 38.6%, significantly enhancing the flatness of the cut surfaces; (3) orthogonal bench tests demonstrated that the type of cutter and the slip-cutting angle significantly influenced the maximum cutting resistance of the stems (p < 0.01), with the optimal configuration being bionic cutter c, a slip-cutting angle of 10°, and a rotational speed of 2600 rpm. In conclusion, bionic cutters demonstrate substantial advantages in reducing maximum cutting resistance and improving the flatness of alfalfa stubble, suggesting their potential for widespread application and adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is the most destructive insect to invade North American forests. Identifying habitat features that support EAB natural enemies is necessary to enhance EAB biological control. In many forest ecosystems, tree species diversity has been linked with reduced pest abundance and increases in natural enemy abundance. We assessed the influence of tree species richness, ash density, and proportion of total ash basal area on ash canopy condition, EAB larval densities, and biocontrol by woodpeckers and parasitoids in pairs of healthy and declining overstory (DBH > 10 cm) and recruit-sized ash (DBH 2–10 cm) in 4 post-invasion forests in Michigan, USA. Tree species richness and ash density were not significantly associated with EAB larval densities, ash canopy dieback and transparency, and woodpecker predation of EAB larvae. In declining and healthy overstory ash, woodpeckers killed 38.5 ± 3.9% and 13.2 ± 3.7% of larvae, respectively, while the native parasitoid Phasgonophora sulcata Westwood killed 15.8 ± 3.8% and 8.3 ± 3.0% and the introduced parasitoid Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac killed 10.8 ± 2.5% and 5.0 ± 2.6% of EAB larvae. Parasitism by P. sulcata was inversely related to ash density while parasitism by S. galinae was positively associated with ash density. Ash density, but not tree diversity, appears to differentially influence biological control of EAB by parasitoids, but this effect is not associated with reduced EAB densities or improved canopy condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life history aspects of dormancy of the weevil Anthonomus rufipennis LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were studied a 57-month period in a seasonally dry tropical forest of central Mexico. Weevil populations and their physiological status were monitored on both the reproductive host tree, Senna polyantha (Collad.) H.S: Irwin & Barneby (Fabales: Fabaceae) and the highly favored refuge host, Tillandsia recurvata L. (Poales: Bromeliaceae) or "ball moss." During the dry season, weevils were only found on the refuge host with a mean total density of 1.014 ± 2.532 individuals/ball moss (N  = 1,681). Weevil densities on T. recurvata between early and late dry seasons were not significantly different, suggesting that dry season survival was relatively high. Weevils collected during these seasons revealed little reproductive development and relatively high-fat accumulation in both sexes. During 5 of 6 yr, densities of the weevils in T. recurvata dropped significantly during the early rainy seasons, when the reproductive host trees leafed out and began producing oviposition sites (flower buds). At this time, more males than females initially moved to vegetative trees and showed significant signs of reproductive development. Recolonization of ball moss by weevils began during the late rainy season when oviposition sites (flower buds) were still available. A proportion of the weevils remained on the reproductive host, suggesting that A. rufipennis is facultatively multivoltine. The methodologies and results of the study can serve as a model system for future studies of the dormancy of other insects in dry tropical forests and provide insight into the dormancy of other anthonomine weevils of economic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has caused extensive mortality of ash across North America. Biological control offers a potential long-term management option, allowing for long-term survival of ash. Careful monitoring of populations of biocontrol agents is necessary to understand their relative impacts. Understanding the emergence and flight phenology of these species allows for the optimization of monitoring schemes and improves our understanding of host–parasitoid interactions. We used yellow pan trapping data to assess the adult phenology of both EAB and its associated native and introduced parasitoids in 3 New York counties. We monitored 2 introduced larval biocontrol agents, Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac (Braconidae), for 3–4 years post-release, as well as the native parasitoid Phasgonophora sulcata Westword (Chalcididae). Results indicate a single discrete emergence event for both EAB and P. sulcata in all monitored counties, which is consistent with previously reported results. Our results also suggest there are 4 generations per year of T. planipennisi and 3 generations of S. galinae in the monitored counties. We recorded an additional generation of T. planipennisi that had not previously been reported in New York, and both T. planipennisi and S. galinae appeared to emerge earlier than previously documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gut microbiota have several advantages in influencing the host nutrition, metabolism, immunity and growth. However, the understanding of the gut microbiota in key edible wood-boring beetle larvae remain largely undefined. In the present study, the characteristics of the gut microbiota of two edible wood-boring species (Titocerus jaspideus and Passalus punctiger) from two indigenous forested areas were investigated. Results: Over 50% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) constituted of Firmicutes in T. jaspideus. The dominant phyla in both beetle species were Bacteroidota (4.20–19.79%) and Proteobacteria (15.10–23.90%). Lactococcus lactis was the most abundant and core prokaryote in the guts of T. jaspideus. The fungi identified in the gut of both insects belong to the phylum Obazoa (66%) and Ascomycota (> 15%). Scheffersomyeces sp. was the core eukaryote recorded. The diversity of gut microbiota in both insect species did not vary significantly. Most of the prokaryotic genes expressed were predominantly associated with biosynthesis and metabolism. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that Lactococcus lactis and Scheffersomyeces are core gut microbes of wood boring beetle larvae with desirable probiotic properties and promising use in food product fermentation for improved growth performance, gut barrier health, intestinal flora balance and immune protection for human and animals. Further studies to highlight the latest medical-based applications of L. lactis as live-delivery vector for the administration of therapeutics against both communicable and non-communicable diseases are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management practices creating small‐scale forest edge habitats in managed forests have substantial impacts on the formation of beetle assemblages. In 2021, we conducted research in a managed oak woodland in Central Slovakia using three flight interception traps (FITs) to study beetle assemblages. Two FITs were installed at the forest edge, facing both, the clearing and the closed‐stand forest, while the third FIT was positioned 100 m within the closed‐canopy forest. We employed a novel methodological approach, which involved separately collected subsamples within the ecotone using FITs differentiated as ‘ecotone inwards’ and ‘ecotone outwards’ to capture distinct directional movements at the edge. We recorded 5.997 beetle specimens, encompassing 417 species across 284 genera and 58 families. We found that the species diversity and abundance of beetles were not significantly different between the FITs. However, the species composition was significantly different. The partial detrended canonical correspondence analysis suggests that these compositional differences might be closely associated with the distribution of trophic guilds, indicating varied responses to habitat modifications induced by forest edge creation. The results of our study showed that phloephagous, saproxylophagous, xylomycetophagous, xylophagous and zoophagous beetles exhibited a positive association with the forest edge, while mycophagous, phytophagous and saprophagous groups were distinctly associated with the closed‐canopy forest. Our analyses indicated that the ‘ecotone outward’ part of forest edges of managed forest may attract higher number of trophic groups, while the ‘ecotone inward’ part of the forest edge hosted high abundances of phloephagous and xylomycetophagous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most numerous group of animals on Earth, insects are found in almost every ecosystem. Their useful role in the environment is priceless; however, for humans, their presence may be considered negative or even harmful. For years, people have been trying to control the number of pests by using synthetic insecticides, which eventually causes an increased level of resistance to applied compounds. The effects of synthetic insecticides have encouraged researchers to search for alternatives and thus develop safe compounds with high specificity. Using knowledge about the physiology of insects and the functionality of compounds of insect origin, a new class of bioinsecticides called peptidomimetics, which are appropriately modified insect analogues, was created. One promising compound that might be successfully modified is the thirteen amino acid peptide alloferon (HGVSGHGQHGVHG), which is obtained from the hemolymph of the blue blowfly Calliphora vicinia. Our research aimed to understand the physiological properties of alloferon and the activity of its peptidomimetics, which will provide the possibility of using alloferon or its analogues in the pharmaceutical industry, as a drug or adjuvant, or in agriculture as a bioinsecticide. We used alloferon and its three peptidomimetics, which are conjugates of the native peptide with three unsaturated fatty acids with various chain lengths: caprylic, myristic, and palmitic. We tested their effects on the morphology and activity of the reproductive system and the embryogenesis of the Tenebrio molitor beetle. We found that the tested compounds influenced the growth and maturation of ovaries and the expression level of the vitellogenin gene. The tested compounds also influenced the process of egg laying, embryogenesis, and offspring hatching, showing that alloferon might be a good peptide for the synthesis of effective bioinsecticides or biopharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animal species have movement abilities. Behavior is important for evolutionary ecology because animal movement leads to dispersal, migration, search for food and mates, and escaping from enemies. However, individual differences in movement activity are found within a population. This phenomenon can be affected by various factors, one of which is suggesting that higher moving activity has fitness cost, whereas lower moving activity has benefits. Animal movement may also affect reproduction (e.g., resource allocation tradeoff between movement and reproduction as well as intra‐ and intersexual selection). Although many previous studies have investigated the relationship between movement and reproduction, less attention has been paid to walking movement. In this study, previous studies that investigated the relationship between movement and reproduction were reviewed using the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, a model insect in behavioral ecology and genetics. Several previous studies suggest that beetle walking is strongly associated with male and female reproductive traits. In recent years, empirical studies on the correlation between walking and other traits have increased, particularly in T. castaneum. Although this species can fly and walk, the movement is often discussed without discriminating between flight and walk. Differences in modes of movement may affect the correlation between movement and other traits; thus, discussing each mode of movement separately is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius), also known as the cowpea beetle or pulse beetle, is the most important pest of stored cowpea. The beetle causes both qualitative and quantitative losses in the grains, all of which result in low crop yields. The objective of this work was to investigate the insecticidal effect of rose essential oil (REO) on adult Callosobruchus maculatus in terms of mortality and oviposition. In addition, the viable mesophilic aerobic bacteria of C. maculatus were evaluated, and surface molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps were examined to determine the interaction domains of the bioactive components of REO. The interaction mechanism between the AChE enzyme (PDB ID: 6XXY, 4EY6, 4EY7 and 6O4W) and the REO components was investigated using the molecular docking method. The highest mortality of 92.40 ± 0.03% was obtained at 16 μL within 72 h of exposure. Higher concentrations of the essential oil decreased the laying performance of C. maculatus. A significant decrease of 91.33% in the number of eggs laid was observed. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results showed that the major constituents of Rosa damascena Miller essential oil (REO) were citronellol (46.15%), geraniol (16.19%), nonadecane (8.80%) and nerol (7.43%). Treatments of 4, 8, 12 and 16 μL of REO significantly reduced the viable mesophilic aerobic bacteria of C. maculatus samples compared with the control. It was found that the most effective binding was between the REO components and the 4EY7 protein, with binding energies ranging from −6.9 to −8.9 kcal/mol. Although the major component of REO was citronellol (46.15%), the best interaction was observed with farnesol isomer B (0.80%). Overall, these results suggest that REO has the potential to control C. maculatus as an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lucanidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are fascinating beetles exhibiting significant dimorphism and are widely used as beetle evolutionary study models. However, lacking high-quality genomes prohibits our understanding of Lucanidae. Herein, we proposed a chromosome-level genome assembly of a widespread species, Prosopocoilus inquinatus, combining PacBio HiFi, Illumina, and Hi-C data. The genome size reaches 649.73 Mb, having the scaffold N50 size of 59.50 Mb, and 99.6% (647.13 Mb) of the assembly successfully anchored on 12 chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis of the genome exhibits a completeness of 99.6% (n = 1,367), including 1,362 (98.5%) single-copy BUSCOs and 15 (1.1%) duplicated BUSCOs. The genome annotation identifies that the genome contains 61.41% repeat elements and 13,452 predicted protein-coding genes. This high-quality Lucanidae genome provides treasured genomic information to our knowledge of stag beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfl ieß, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in the litter layer that recorded the conditions every 30 min in 2021. Monthly visits were made to determine the biomass of vegetation, soil and litter properties, edaphic rove beetle fauna and total abundance and and that of individual species at 1 m2 sites. Statistical analysis of 365 diurnal cycles per site, with pronounced amplitude in air temperature and humidity, clearly delineated the cooler and more humid sites from warmer and drier ones. Between 10 and 22 of the 30 xerothermophilous species (73.3%), such as, e.g. Quedius persimilis Mulsant & Rey, 1876, Xantholinus gallicus Coiff ait, 1956, Cousya longitarsis (Thomson, 1867) and Euaesthetus superlatus Peyerimhoff, 1937, were recorded only at the cooler and moist sites on the heath. Comparison of the abundances and distribution of species revealed that the xerothermophilous heath-dwelling and desiccation-prone species prefer rather constant environmental conditions, i.e. niches in cool and moist habitats on warm and dry heathland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage insect pest sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, is one of the important secondary pests encountered in grains and packaged commodities. It is emerging as one of the important storage pests due to the development of resistance against phosphine fumigants in many countries. Several studies were carried out to ascertain the susceptibility of this pest to phosphine fumigation from India. Dose-response probit assays conducted against larval (second and fourth instar) and adult stages of O. surinamensis revealed significant dose-dependent and time-dependent variations in these stages. The adults were relatively less susceptible to phosphine (LC50 = 36.84 ppm) than the larval stages (LC50 = 13.12, 18.68 ppm respectively, for second and fourth instar at 72 h exposure). Comparative toxicity of phosphine at 24, 48 and 72 h exposures revealed that extended exposures led to linear decrease in lethal concentrations irrespective of life stage of the pest. The discriminating dose bioassay at 0.04-0.2 mg l-1 phosphine with 20 h exposure revealed weak resistance to phosphine in this population. The present study confirmed the tolerance of O. surinamensis to phosphine as comparable with that reported from other countries. Large-scale sampling of field populations of O. surinamensis from different geographical regions will update the current levels of resistance in field populations of O. surinamensis from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike majority of generalist predators of soft-body phytophagous insects, the giant ladybeetle predator, Anisolemnia dilatata (Fabricius), is a specialist predator of woolly aphids of bamboo plants in parts of tropical Asia. This predator has a long development time and reproductive duration. This study investigated through a field-cum-laboratory approach how a predator optimizes its reproductive and generational timing in bamboo habitats with patchy resources of woolly aphids. Results revealed that the giant ladybeetle females produced 69.20% of total eggs in the high prey density phase (mean ± SEM: 52.52 ± 9.65 aphids/leaf), comprising an average of 11 weeks out of the prey population cycle of 38 weeks. However, gravid females initiated egg-laying at a minimum average prey density of 16.35 aphids/leaf. Females chose narrow and thin parts of bamboo plants for depositing egg batches at a minimum distance of 21.05 cm and a maximum of 46.95 cm from the nearest aphid colony. Such behaviour is unique in aphidophagous predators directed at avoiding egg predation from actively growing conspecific or heterospecific larvae that continue to feed aphids after cessation of egg-laying in the declining phase of the population when prey resources become scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elektrocateres rappsilberi gen. et sp. nov. is described from Bitterfeld or Saxonian amber. It is the first representative of the superfamily Cleroidea (Coleoptera) recorded in this amber, from which only 10 families of beetles were known until now. The new genus and species was studied using classical stereomicroscopy, as well as digital microscopy and synchrotron-radiation-based micro-computed tomography. The fossil is related to the rare extant monotypic genera Trichocateres Kolibáč, 2010 and Carinicateres Kolibáč, 2021 from tropical forests of Southeastern Asia. It is assumed that Elektrocateres rappsilberi gen. et sp. nov. would be predatory, hunting other arthropods on tree branches and trunks; however, its mouthparts are probably still on halfway between herbivory or fungivory and predatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monochamus alternatus is one of the most important borers of conifers and the main vector of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causal agent of pine wilt disease. It causes massive death of pine trees and seriously affects the health of forest ecosystems. Traditionally, adults or larvae are identified by morphological or molecular methods. However, diagnosing M. alternatus larvae at different instars collected from forests is expensive and time‐consuming. Non‐destructive molecular diagnostic protocols are, therefore, being developed to detect biological traces (i.e. exuviae, excreta) and to determine the distribution and spread of this pest. In this study, based on the alignment of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences of M. alternatus and other insect species, we designed the primer pair of Mal‐SF/Mal‐SR and probe of Mal‐P for M. alternatus. TaqMan probe‐based qPCR was developed to identify the occurrence of M. alternatus in forests by amplifying the DNA samples obtained from its adult, larva, frass, excreta and exuviae. The amplification results were very effective. The lowest amount of M. alternatus DNA that could be detected with a Cq of 31.93 in the mixed samples was 0.64 pg, showing very high sensitivity. This assay can easily identify M. alternatus from other non‐target wood‐borer species using its frass and exuviae, providing a new diagnostic protocol for monitoring the occurrence and distribution of M. alternatus in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolving a robust phylogeny of an organismal group is often hindered by the limited availability of samples suitable for genomic or transcriptomic sequencing. Even for lineages of notable importance in evolutionary ecology, our phylogenetic comprehension remains largely unsatisfactory due to the challenges of acquiring samples across the clade. The long‐horned beetle genus Anoplophora Hope exemplifies such a group, globally renowned for two invasive pests—the Asian long‐horned beetle and citrus long‐horned beetle—which have inflicted significant damage to deciduous hardwood forest in North America and Europe. In contrast to the two temperate pests, the remaining 50 species in the genus inhabit subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, where most species are only infrequently encountered. Here, we present the first comprehensive phylogeny of Anoplophora using a PCR‐based target enrichment museomics approach. As a case study of employing PCR‐generated custom probes, we demonstrate the robustness and cost‐effectiveness of this in‐house method in successfully acquiring sequence data from historical specimens. Through extensive sampling of Anoplophora using museum specimens, we reveal a non‐sister relationship between the two temperate species and provide evidence for addressing taxonomic conundrums. Our biogeographical analyses indicate that the adaptation of the two temperate species occurred independently during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene after the establishment of temperate forests in East Asia in the late Miocene. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive phylogenetic inference in understanding the patterns and processes of these beetles' adaptation to temperate forests and lay the groundwork for investigating the genetic mechanism underlying life in the cold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic communication is widespread in beetles, is often sexually dimorphic, and plays a significant role in behaviours such as premating recognition, courtship, and copulation. However, the factors that determine the presence or absence of acoustic signalling in a given species remain unclear. We examined acoustic communication in bark beetles (Scolytinae) and pinhole borers (Platypodinae), which are two speciose groups with widespread sound production capabilities. We show that body size along with the sequence of host colonisation predict the presence of acoustic communication, and report, for the first time in the animal kingdom, a size limit—1.9 mm—below which acoustic signalling ceases to be present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar sympatric species should show differentiation in at least one of the main niche dimensions (time, space, and/or food). Here, we combined observations of breeding timing, nest site selection, and diet (the latter determined using DNA metabarcoding) to analyze the niche overlap and differentiation between two sympatric secondary cavity‐nesting birds, the Japanese Tit Parus minor and the Yellow‐rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia. The results showed that (1) there were significant differences in the first egg laying date, length of the egg laying period, incubation date, and hatching date between tits and flycatchers, and the breeding time of flycatchers peaked later (about 30 days) than that of tits; (2) the two species had a large overlap in nest site selection, although the canopy coverage and shrub density of flycatchers were significantly higher than those of tits; and (3) the niche overlap in diet was minimal, with both species heavily relying on Lepidoptera (39.6% and 63.7% for tits and flycatchers, respectively), but with flycatchers consuming significantly higher percentages of Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera than tits. The results indicate that these two sympatric secondary cavity‐nesting species have significant niche differentiation in breeding time and diet, but little differentiation in nest site selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beetles have a remote evolutionary history dating back to the Carboniferous, with Mesozoic fossils playing a pivotal role in elucidating the early evolution of extant families. Despite their exceptional preservation in amber, deciphering the systematic positions of Mesozoic trogossitid‐like beetles remains challenging. Here, we describe and illustrate a new trogossitid‐like lineage from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber, Foveapeltis rutai Li, Kolibáč, Liu & Cai, gen. et sp. nov. Foveapeltis stands out within the Cleroidea due to the presence of a significant large cavity on each hypomeron. While the exact phylogenetic placement of Foveapeltis remains uncertain, we offer a discussion on its potential affinity based on our constrained phylogenetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Neotropical beetles present coloration patterns mimicking red-eyed flies, which are presumably evasive mimicry models. However, the role of predators in selecting for evasive mimics in nature remains untested. In a field experiment, we used nontoxic plasticine replicas of a specialized fly-mimicking beetle species, which we placed on the host plants of the beetles. We show that replicas painted with reddish patches simulating the eyes of flesh flies experienced a much lower predation rate than control replicas. We found that beak marks were the most frequent signs of attack on plasticine replicas, underlining the potential selective pressure exerted by birds. Replicas that matched the size of the beetles suffered higher predation than smaller or larger replicas. The predation rate was also higher for beetle replicas exposed during the warm and wet season, when adult beetles occur. Our results support predator-mediated selection of mimic beetles, highlighting that reddish spots resembling flies' eyes comprise an important trait in reducing attack by avian predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 5 million years, numerous species of Australian stygobiotic (subterranean and aquatic) beetles have evolved underground following independent colonization of aquifers by surface ancestors, providing a set of repeated evolutionary transitions from surface to subterranean life. We used this system as an 'evolutionary experiment' to investigate whether relaxed selection has provided a source of variability for adaptive radiations into ecosystems containing open niches and whether this variability underpins phenotypic evolution in cave animals. Linear and landmark-based measurements were used to quantify the morphology of subterranean species from different aquifers, compared to interstitial and closely related aquatic surface species. Subterranean dytiscids were observed to be morphologically distinct, suggesting they have a different lifestyle compared to their surface relatives. However, variation in the measured traits was much greater in the subterranean species, and unstructured, showing no evidence of clustering that would indicate adaptation to specific niches. Furthermore, a previously identified pattern of repeated nonoverlapping size variation in beetles across aquifers was not correlated with repeated body shape evolution. The observed variability across body shape and limb traits provides support for the hypothesis that relaxed selection and neutral evolution underlie the phenotypic evolution in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Gorteria diffusa has elaborate petal spots that attract pollinators through sexual deception, but how G. diffusa controls spot development is largely unknown. Here, we investigate how pigmentation is regulated during spot formation.We determined the anthocyanin composition of G. diffusa petals and combined gene expression analysis with protein interaction assays to characterise R2R3‐MYBs that likely regulate pigment production in G. diffusa petal spots.We found that cyanidin 3‐glucoside pigments G. diffusa ray floret petals. Unlike other petal regions, spots contain a high proportion of malonylated anthocyanin. We identified three subgroup 6 R2R3‐MYB transcription factors (GdMYBSG6‐1,2,3) that likely activate the production of spot pigmentation. These genes are upregulated in developing spots and induce ectopic anthocyanin production upon heterologous expression in tobacco. Interaction assays suggest that these transcription factors regulate genes encoding three anthocyanin synthesis enzymes.We demonstrate that the elaboration of complex spots in G. diffusa begins with the accumulation of malonylated pigments at the base of ray floret petals, positively regulated by three paralogous R2R3‐MYB transcription factors. Our results indicate that the functional diversification of these GdMYBSG6s involved changes in the spatial control of their transcription, and modification of the duration of GdMYBSG6 gene expression contributes towards floral variation within the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chance discovery early in 1980 led to a body of work on a virus and a rare species that lasted until the end of the decade. The discovery and characterisation of turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV-Cd) infecting one-fifth of the fragmented population of Cardamine robusta at Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales, revealed a puzzle that remains unresolved. There is no clear explanation as to why there is a population of TYMV here in the Southern Hemisphere whose sequence has only diverged from Northern Hemisphere TYMV by a few percent. Adding to the mystery is the fact that TYMV-Cd only infects one of the rarest and geographically most restricted species in Australia, while it is surrounded by potential hosts known to be infected in the Northern Hemisphere. This article reviews research published on TYMV at Mt Kosciuszko during the 1980s and 1990s. While human agency cannot be ruled out, indications are that TYMV established without human intervention. The work is set in a historical context and highlights some of the changes around how plant virology is done. A chance discovery in alpine Australia in 1980 led to the discovery of a virus in a remote and rare species of plant. The virus has clear connections with a virus in the Northern Hemisphere. The way we study plant virology has changed over the intervening years but the mystery as to how the virus got there remains. Photograph by: PL Guy 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of narrow-waisted bark beetle is described from Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine): Diagrypnodes villumi sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Salpingidae). This fossil refutes a simplistic view of the genus Diagrypnodes as a typical Gondwanan lineage whose extant species are disjunct between Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. Diagrypnodes villumi is the first definitive fossil species of the subfamily Inopeplinae, the other being Eopeplus stetzenkoi Kirejtshuk and Nel from lowermost Eocene (53 Ma) Oise amber which was placed in this subfamily, albeit tentatively. Extant inopeplines occur in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. The presence of Diagrypnodes and Eopeplus in Eocene Europe suggest a formerly different and presumably wider distribution of the subfamily. Furthermore, the ant Lasius schiefferdeckeri Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) preserved in the amber piece as a eusyninclusion with D. villumi is a new example of the simultaneous presence of the temperate and frost intolerant elements in European Eocene amber forests.LSID [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significance of saproxylic beetle species for ecosystems, the investigation of fine‐scale population genetics within the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, remains notably limited. Because of their limited dispersal distances and habitat fragmentation, high genetic structure and low genetic diversity are expected in its populations.To evaluate the impact of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity and structure, we examined 150 specimens of L. cervus from three sites in western Poland: two forest stands and one stand located in an Oak avenue. We utilised 19 microsatellite DNA loci for this examination.Results of neighbour‐joining analysis and principal coordinates analysis, values of differentiation indexes (G'ST, D(Jost) and FST) and rare/private allele frequencies indicated weak genetic differentiation among individuals collected from the tree sites. A spatial component to the genetic structure was identified through STRUCTURE (LOCPRIOR), isolation by distance tests and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The genetic diversity remained relatively high (HE: 0.49–0.51), with no inbreeding observed and no significant differences in mean relatedness among individuals from sampling sites.Limited genetic differentiation between the individuals of L. cervus from the investigated sites may result from a lag time since fragment isolation, unrestricted gene flow and marker/sample size limitations. Though weak, the significant differentiation between two of the sites may be linked to environmental differences and distance. Genetic data support treating individuals from forests as a single management unit. Non‐invasive sampling suffices for genetic studies, but achieving balanced sampling is crucial for precise historical demography estimates of endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Savannas are recognized as one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. However, these environments have the highest rates of habitat loss due to land use and climate-induced alterations in fire regimes. The combination of these threats, along with knowledge gaps in biodiversity, represents formidable challenges to conservation efforts in these regions. Dung beetles, vital for comprehending the impact of land use on savannas, have yet to undergo comprehensive study. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of the current state of knowledge regarding dung beetles distributed in savannas within Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Australasia zoogeographic regions. We describe the encompassing geographical distribution, research topics, studied habitats, and key metrics assessed in existing studies. Our results reveal a pronounced focus on Neotropical savannas highlighting a substantial deficit in dung beetle ecology knowledge within Afro-tropical and Australasian savannas. Most articles focused on savanna grasslands, woodlands, and human-introduced habitats such as pastures. The predominant articles focused on community patterns, habitat replacement, and degradation. Noteworthy metrics included abundance, richness, and species composition. Diversity indexes and functional diversity were also relatively well-explored metrics. However, across all zoogeographic regions, aspects of dung beetle behavior, reproductive biology, and physiology remain inadequately explored. In conclusion, urgent research efforts are imperative, emphasizing the need for comprehensive metrics, including biomass, morphometrics, and ecological functions of dung beetles, to advance our understanding of their significance and roles within savannas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress in beetle palaeontology has incited us to re‐address the evolutionary history of the group. The Permian †Tshekardocoleidae had elytra that covered the posterior body in a loose tent‐like manner. The formation of elytral epipleura and a tight fit of elytra and abdomen were important evolutionary transformations in the Middle Permian, resulting in a tightly enclosed subelytral space. Permian families were likely associated with dead wood of gymnospermous trees. The end‐Permian extinction event resulted in a turnover in the composition of beetle faunas, especially a decline of large‐bodied wood‐associated forms. Adephaga and Myxophaga underwent a first wave of diversification in the Triassic. Polyphaga are very rare in this period. The first wave of diversification of this suborder occurs in the Jurassic, with fossils of Elateriformia, Staphyliniformia and Cucujiformia. The Cretaceous fossil record has been tremendously enriched by the discovery of amber inclusions. Numerous fossils represent all major polyphagan lineages and also the remaining suborders. Improved analytical methods for documenting and placing extinct taxa are discussed. Different factors have played a role in the diversification of beetles. The enormous number of species associated with flowering plants, and timing and patterns of diversification in phytophagous lineages indicate that the angiosperm radiation played a major role in beetle macroevolution. Moreover, the evolution of intimate partnerships with symbionts and the acquisition of novel genes—obtained from fungi and bacteria via horizontal gene transfers—facilitated the use of plant material as a food source and were key innovations in the diversification of plant‐feeding beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The family Lampyridae, commonly known as fireflies, is a cosmopolitan group comprising approximately 100 genera and 2200 species. Oculogryphus Jeng, Engel & Yang, 2007 is a small firefly genus endemic to Asia with only four known species and the phylogenetic position of it remains unresolved. It has been considered enigmatic because of its characteristic morphology intermingling different subfamilies, while its systematic status has never been rigorously tested due to a lack of molecular data. In this study, we obtained a large series of O. chenghoiyanae Yiu & Jeng, 2018 from southeastern China. We successfully sequenced and annotated its complete mitochondrial genome and clarified the systematic status of Oculogryphus. The firefly genus Oculogryphus Jeng, Engel & Yang, 2007 is a rare-species group endemic to Asia. Since its establishment, its position has been controversial but never rigorously tested. To address this perplexing issue, we are the first to present the complete mitochondrial sequence of Oculogryphus, using the material of O. chenghoiyanae Yiu & Jeng, 2018 determined through a comprehensive morphological identification. Our analyses demonstrate that its mitogenome exhibits similar characteristics to that of Stenocladius, including a rearranged gene order between trnC and trnW, and a long intergenic spacer (702 bp) between the two rearranged genes, within which six remnants (29 bp) of trnW were identified. Further, we incorporated this sequence into phylogenetic analyses of Lampyridae based on different molecular markers and datasets using ML and BI analyses. The results consistently place Oculogryphus within the same clade as Stenocladius in all topologies, and the gene rearrangement is a synapomorphy for this clade. It suggests that Oculogryphus should be classified together with Stenocladius in the subfamily Ototretinae at the moment. This study provides molecular evidence confirming the close relationship between Oculogryphus and Stenocladius and discovers a new phylogenetic marker helpful in clarifying the monophyly of Ototretinae, which also sheds a new light on firefly evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Pacific distribution of coastal aleocharines has been explained as the result of either dispersal or vicariance. The rove beetle genus Psammostiba is a marine littoral group that occurs on the Pacific coasts of the Northern Hemisphere. We performed phylogenetic analysis of Psammostiba using molecular characters (4685 bp) to investigate their biogeographic patterns. The data were analysed using parsimony, Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. Model‐based analyses showed the same pattern of Psammostiba species relationships, but parsimony analysis yielded different species relationships for the unresolved clade of Psammostiba. According to the reconstruction of the ancestral areas, both vicariance (two events) and dispersal (one event) have played roles in shaping its current distribution. Biogeographical analyses suggest that the common ancestor of Psammostiba occurred widely along the Pacific coasts of the Northern Hemisphere and underwent vicariance events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptus (Leptus) molochinus (C. L. Koch, 1837) (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) was collected as an ectoparasite on Ophion sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Paederus fuscipes Curtis, 1826 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Cicadella viridis (L. 1758) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Peritrechus sp. (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae); the ectoparasitic mite, Solistrus mitrae Saboori, Ueckermann & van Harten, 2008 was also found on an undetermined ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Guilan province, Iran. Additional morphometric data for L. (L.) molochinus larvae are provided. Solistrus mitrae is reported for the second time in the world. Ophion sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), P. fuscipes (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), C. viridis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Peritrechus sp. (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) are recorded as new host taxa for L. (L.) molochinus and unknown ant species is new host for S. mitrae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, insects have been used as samplers of vertebrate diversity by assessing the ingested‐derived DNA (iDNA), and dung beetles have been shown to be a good mammal sampler given their broad feeding preference, wide distribution and easy sampling. Here, we tested and optimized the use of iDNA from dung beetles to assess the mammal community by evaluating if some biological and methodological aspects affect the use of dung beetles as mammal species samplers. We collected 403 dung beetles from 60 pitfall traps. iDNA from each dung beetle was sequenced by metabarcoding using two mini‐barcodes (12SrRNA and 16SrRNA). We assessed whether dung beetles with different traits related to feeding, nesting and body size differed in the number of mammal species found in their iDNA. We also tested differences among four killing solutions in preserving the iDNA and compared the effectiveness of each mini barcode to recover mammals. We identified a total of 50 mammal OTUs (operational taxonomic unit), including terrestrial and arboreal species from 10 different orders. We found that at least one mammal‐matching sequence was obtained from 70% of the dung beetle specimens. The number of mammal OTUs obtained did not vary with dung beetle traits as well as between the killing solutions. The 16SrRNA mini‐barcode recovered a higher number of mammal OTUs than 12SrRNA, although both sets were partly non‐overlapping. Thus, the complete mammal diversity may not be achieved by using only one of them. This study refines the methodology for routine assessment of tropical mammal communities via dung beetle 'samplers' and its universal applicability independently of the species traits of local beetle communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the complex evolutionary history of lichen-forming fungi has gained considerable attention, particularly regarding the long-debated role of these organisms in shaping early terrestrial ecosystems, the evolution of lichenivory and its potential impact on the diversification of lichenophages have been largely neglected. With > 800 described species worldwide and a broad geographical distribution, the tribe Helopini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) represents a diverse, yet poorly studied, group of predominantly lichenophagous beetles. Using a dataset of 52 ingroup taxa and five gene fragments, a first phylogenetic hypothesis of the tribe was generated, which was subsequently used for reconstructing the ancestral state of the trophic and habitat associations of the beetles and for estimating a time frame of diversification. Our phylogenetic reconstruction sheds light on the higher-level systematics of the tribe, supporting the current subtribal division of the group while also providing a framework for understanding the intergeneric relationships within subtribes. The results also indicate an Early Cretaceous origin of the tribe, highlighting the close association between Helopini and lichen-forming fungi since the emergence of the group. Nevertheless, at least seven independent switches from lichenophagy to alternative feeding habits have occurred since the middle Eocene, which can be linked temporally to transitions from forests to open habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygraphus proximus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a non‐aggressive bark beetle, has caused mortality of Abies spp. in Western Siberia, Central Asia, European Russia as well as Japan. Removing dead trees (e.g. salvage logging) and thinning stands are considered one of the best practices to reduce the risk of bark beetle outbreaks. However, salvaging or removing dead and thinned trees requires significant effort. Thus, to determine whether cutting trees into shorter logs would reduce P. proximus infestation, we exposed A. sachalinensis logs of various lengths on the ground in a forest stand. The attack density of P. proximus significantly decreased with shorter log lengths. It can be concluded that cutting into short logs and leaving them on the ground are effective practices to reduce the chance of P. proximus host location and outbreaks after natural disturbances and thinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small hive beetle Aethina tumida (SHB) Murray,1867, is an invasive bee pest that is expanding its range across Latin America, parts of Australia and the Philippines, and is now established in two regions in Italy. However, despite multiple recent introductions, there is scant information about the dynamics of the initial stages of colonization of the SHB and this knowledge gap could impact management and quarantine strategies decisions for many countries. This note describes the monitoring strategies and the patterns of SHB establishment in a previously SHB‐free apiary on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in 2010–2011. The weekly hive inspections, conducted over a ten‐month period, showed that beetle prevalence increased slowly at the apiary level, and adult beetles were more commonly found (87.9%) inside the oil traps that were placed inside the hives between the outermost frames of the hive. There were relatively few "free roaming" beetles detected at this point and they were more often found on the side frames and underneath the cover of the hive, not on the floor of the hive. The results also suggest that in the early stages of colonization careful visual inspections of the frames of each colony had relatively low detection success when compared to oil traps. Our results support previous modelling studies that suggest the need to inspect a high proportion of colonies per apiary (>80%) to ensure a 5% detection rate during the initial stages of invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial distribution and population fluctuations of insect pests facilitates the development of effective control strategies for a given crop. Conotrachelus psidii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an important guava pest; however, no sampling plans are available for its management. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to (i) determine the spatial distribution pattern of C. psidii adults and (ii) develop a sequential sampling plan for pest control in guava crops. Evaluations began at 120 days after pruning and were performed weekly. To sample C. psidii adults, a white tarp was placed under the plants, covering the entire canopy. Plant branches were then shaken to dislodge the adult insects on the tarp, which were then identified and counted. Using the data obtained in each sampling, dispersion indices were determined and tests of adjustments to the theoretical Poisson and negative binomial frequency distributions were performed. The calculated dispersion indices revealed that the individuals in the studied populations exhibited aggregated dispersion. Notably, only four samples showed adjustment to the Poisson distribution, whereas 18 samples showed adjustment to the negative binomial distribution in the field, confirming the aggregated pattern of the population spatial arrangement. The sequential sampling plan developed for C. psidii revealed the maximum and minimum numbers of sample units expected for decision‐making as 45 and 15, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the spatial structure of spiders and beetles in 4 types of habitats in the Poloniny National Park. Between the years 2020 and 2021, we recorded 1,597 beetle specimens and 3,765 spider specimens using the pitfall trap method. The most represented beetles were Poecilus versicolor (53.4%), Nebria brevicollis (10.3%), Staphylinus caesareus (4.4%) and Amara familiaris (4.1%). Among the spiders, there were species Pardosa pullata (21.81%), Pachygnatha degeeri (14.21%), Xerolycosa nemoralis (10.28%), Pardosa palustris (7.86%), Trochosa ruricola (6.24%) and Alopecosa pulverulenta (4.38%). We confirmed the occurrence of two European important species of beetles (Carabus zawadzkii, Carabus variolosus) and 3 species of spiders belonging to the vulnerable species according to the IUCN threat status (Gongylidiellum vivum, Palliduphantes milleri and Xysticus lineatus). We also found the spider Micaria micans, which is new to the Slovak fauna and information about its distribution and habitat preferences in Slovakia is presented. Using multivariate analyzes (CCA, RDA) and classification species into bioindicative groups, we found a greater connection of adaptable and eurytopic species of ground beetles to the mesophilic meadow and of spiders to the habitat Nardetum pasture. Based on bioindicative groups of species (adaptable, eurytopic and relict), we found only a small difference in percentile points between spiders and beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astylus atromaculatus Blanchard is a native beetle of South America that feeds on pollen. During the summer of 2022–2023 in Argentina and Uruguay, an explosive infestation of these insects occurred in pastures in which ruminants were grazing. This was believed to be associated with a severe drought, which had significantly reduced the flowering of crops. Three farms in Uruguay and one in Argentina were visited to examine the flocks and perform autopsies. Affected sheep had watery diarrhea, anorexia, depression, and ruminal atony. The average morbidity, mortality, and case fatality rates were 7.5%, 4.3%, and 68%, respectively. The main gross findings in all animals were in the jejunum; the serosa had multifocal hemorrhages, and the mucosa was necrotic and covered by a pseudomembrane. Microscopically, the mucosa had partial-to-complete necrosis of the lamina propria, as well as loss of villus and crypt epithelium with neutrophilic infiltration. Overlying the necrotic mucosa was a pseudomembrane of fibrin, cell debris, desquamated epithelial cells, degenerate neutrophils, and bacteria. Many specimens of A. atromaculatus were in all paddocks in which sheep grazed, as well as in the ruminal content of the autopsied animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• • At 19 − 34 °C, D. maculatus can complete the entire immature stage of development. • • The lower and upper developmental thresholds were 15.28 and 34.03 °C, respectively. • • The survival rate was the highest at 22 °C and the lowest at 34 °C. • • Body length, the widths of head capsule and pronotum were modeled over time. Necrophagous beetles are sometimes used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI min) in the decay and remains stages of a corpse. Among these, the Dermestidae is one of the most common groups used and therefore has important research and application value. In this study, the developmental events of Dermestes maculatus de Geer, 1774, were recorded at six constant temperatures, and isomorphen diagrams were established. The thermobiological parameters were estimated using linear and non-linear models, and morphological indicators such as larval body length were measured. The results showed that the developmental duration of the whole immature stage decreased from 66.13 ± 8.58 days at 19 °C to 21.9 ± 2.01 days at 34 °C. The survival rate of the immature stages, especially the egg stage, varies greatly with temperature, with the lowest survival observed at 34 °C and the highest at 22 °C. The lower developmental threshold, the intrinsic optimum temperature, and the upper lethal developmental threshold obtained by the curvilinear Optim SSI models were 15.28 °C, 28.36 °C, and 34.03 °C, respectively. The body length, head capsule width, and pronotum width showed obvious growth patterns with larval developmental duration, which were characterized by equations and isomegalen diagrams. This study provides important basic data for the application of D. maculatus to estimate the PMI min in forensic entomology in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The superfamily Dryopoidea is a diverse group of beetles with a mixture of aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial life histories. These beetles exhibit remarkable morphological diversity, particularly in the larval stages, which is likely associated with their repeated adaptation to aquatic habitats. The phylogenetic relationships among Dryopoidea families and subfamilies are controversial, as phylogenetic analyses based on morphology have failed to propose robust and consistent hypotheses. However, recent molecular phylogenetic studies have provided better resolution for the interfamilial relationships and suggested the non-monophyly of a few families. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of Dryopoidea obtained in Japan along with other groups in the Elateriformia (Byrrhoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea, and Elateroidea) using sequence data from ultraconserved elements with the maximum-likelihood method and species-tree analysis based on a multispecies coalescent model. Our results show that Dryopoidea is a monophyletic group, not sister to Byrrhoidea. In Dryopoidea, Dryopidae is sister to all other groups, and Psephenidae and Ptilodactylidae are not monophyletic groups. In Psephenidae, Eubrianacinae has clearly diverged from the other subfamilies (Psepheninae, Psephenoidinae, and Eubriinae) and is closely related to Callirhipidae; in Ptilodactylidae, Cladotominae is related to Psephenidae (except Eubrianacinae) + Chelonariidae and separated from the other Ptilodactylidae subfamilies (Anchytarsinae and Ptilodactylinae). Although ML analyses indicated paraphyly of subfamilies in Limnichidae and Psephenidae (except Eubrianacinae), this was resolved in species tree analysis. Our results show that Eubrianacinae and Cladotominae are clearly distinct groups with different origins from other subfamilies of the respective families and can be separated as independent families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses are an increasingly popular tool for assessing biodiversity. eDNA sampling that uses invertebrates, or invertebrate DNA (iDNA), has become a more common method in mammal biodiversity studies where biodiversity is assessed via diet analysis of different coprophagous or hematophagous invertebrates. The carrion feeding family of beetles (Silphidae: Coleoptera, Latreille (1807)), have not yet been established as a viable iDNA source in primary scientific literature, yet could be useful indicators for tracking biodiversity in forested ecosystems. Silphids find carcasses of varying size for both food and reproduction, with some species having host preference for small mammals; therefore, iDNA Silphid studies could potentially target small mammal communities. To establish the first valid use of iDNA methods to detect Silphid diets, we conducted a study with the objective of testing the validity of iDNA methods applied to Silphids using both Sanger sequencing and high throughput Illumina sequencing. Beetles were collected using inexpensive pitfall traps in Alberta, Michigan in 2019 and 2022. We successfully sequenced diet DNA and environmental DNA from externally swabbed Silphid samples and diet DNA from gut dissections, confirming their potential as an iDNA tool in mammalian studies. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of Silphids for iDNA research where we detected species from the genera Anaxyrus, Blarina, Procyon, Condylura, Peromyscus, Canis, and Bos. Our results highlight the potential for Silphid iDNA to be used in future wildlife surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dendroctonus valens along with its symbiotic fungi have caused unprecedented damage to pines in China. Leptographium procerum, its primary symbiotic fungus, facilitates the invasion and colonization of the pest, thereby aggravating ecological threats. Assessing shifts in the niches and ranges of D. valens and its symbiotic fungus could provide a valuable basis for pest control. Here, we conducted niche comparisons between native and invasive populations of D. valens. Then, we employed standard ecological niche models and ensembles of small models to predict the potential distributions of D. valens and L. procerum under climate change conditions and to estimate areas of overlap. RESULTS: The niche of invasive population of D. valens in Chinese mainland only occupied a limited portion of the niche of native population in North America, leaving a substantial native niche unfilled and without any niche expansion. The suitable regions for D. valens are predicted in central and southern North America and central and northeastern Chinese mainland. The overlap with the suitable regions of L. procerum included eastern North America and the central and northeastern Chinese mainland under historical climatic scenarios. The regions susceptible to their symbiotic damage will shift northward in response to future climate change. CONCLUSIONS: Projected distributions of D. valens and its symbiotic fungus, along with areas vulnerable to their symbiotic damage, provide essential insights for devising strategies against this association. Additionally, our study contributes to comprehending how biogeographic approaches aid in estimating potential risks of pest–pathogen interactions in forests within a warming world. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6G(Sixth-generation) technology is the next generation of mobile wireless communication networks, designed to deliver more inclusive and long-lasting wireless connectivity. Great security, secrecy, and privacy should be the fundamental qualities of 6G. However, 6G faces challenges in overcoming limitations like congested networks that lead to poor Quality of experience (QoE) and high energy consumption for continuous operation. In this work, a novel 6G Resource Allocation Detection USing Deep Learning (6G-RADIUS) technique has been proposed to allocate resources and enhance QoE efficiency and energy efficiency in a 6G network. Data from the user's equipment is sent to the base station to begin the procedure. The Golden Tortoise Beetle Optimizer (GTBO) assigns subbands, potentially choosing those with the most important information or strongest signals. The resource allocation method is carried out using a Multi-Head Attention-based Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (MHA-BiGRU) model. The output of the MHA-BiGRU model is supplied into the BaseBand Unit (BBU) pool, which regulates and distributes resources among many BBU. The proposed techniques' performance is assessed using QoE, resource utilization, energy efficiency, Mean Square Error (MSE), Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF), and spectral efficiency. The proposed method has a higher resource utilization factor of 8.16%, 6.12%, and 3.06% compared to existing QJEEO, EKF and SDWN techniques, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forest ecosystems, fires profoundly impact the habitat and seasonal dynamics of numerous Coleoptera species. The phenology of species and communities is particularly noteworthy in burned areas that were previously forest ecosystems. In 2023, research was conducted in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve on 11 burned plots in 2021 and control plots. The research employed the use of beer traps, which are baited with a combination of beer and sugar. In the second year after the fires, species from the families Nitidulidae, Cerambycidae, Scarabaeidae, and Elateridae exhibited the highest total number across all plots, accounting for 84.8% of all Coleoptera specimens collected. A single peak in the abundance of Coleoptera was observed on all plots during the month of May. The second peak in abundance during the autumn season was relatively modest in scale and was observed exclusively on unburned 2021 plots. Nitidulidae beetles appear in traps earlier than other beetles, with their number peaking in April and May. Thereafter, their number declined in June. The number of Cerambycidae and Scarabaeidae on all plots was relatively low in April but increased significantly in May and June. The peak abundance of Elateridae was observed in June, although the first individuals were recorded in April. A precipitous decline in the abundance of the species was observed in July, with only a single specimen being recorded in August. The Elateridae were observed to be particularly prevalent in burned areas where deadwood was present. There are variations in the observed differences between individual families, which are related to the location of plots, the condition of the vegetation cover, and the presence of flowering plants, deadwood, and dry trees on the plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term experiments are critical for understanding ecological processes, but their management comes with unique challenges. As time passes, projects may encounter unavoidable changes due to external factors, like availability of materials, affecting aspects of their research methodology. At the Kellogg Biological Station Long‐Term Ecological Research Site, one of the many National Science Foundation‐funded long‐term research stations, a three‐decade project recently experienced a supply‐chain‐induced change in insect sampling methodology in their lady beetle observation study. Since 1989, lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) have been sampled weekly over the growing season using yellow sticky cards. In 2021, the original sticky traps were discontinued by the manufacturer and replaced with a similar, but not identical trap. We conducted a 3‐year study while the new traps were phased in to examine how the trap change would impact the observed biodiversity patterns at the site. We examined community metrics and individual taxa captures to examine within‐year and between‐year differences in performance between the card types. Overall, we noted several small but statistically detectable differences in capture patterns between the two trap types. After accounting for other sources of variation, we observed a difference in Shannon diversity of insects captured on the two card types, but not richness or abundance, for the overall insect community. Yet, these differences were dwarfed by the magnitude of difference observed between years within card types. For individual taxa, similar patterns held: between trap differences could be detected statistically, but the number of differences in capture rate between trap types was less than the number of differences observed for the same trap, between years. Thus, we conclude that while subtle changes in methodology could impact data produced in long‐term experiments; in this case, the magnitude of this change is smaller than other factors such as time and plant treatment. However, if sustained changes in the capture rates of focal taxa are observed, future data users may use our observations to specifically quantify and correct for these shifting patterns related to the protocol change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dung beetle fauna of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) and National Park in Bihar, India, was surveyed to document the diversity of this group. The landscape of VTR serves as an ecotone region where the lower Shivalik hills and the flood plains of the Gandak river meet, resulting in species that represent both overlapping landscapes. Fifteen species of genus Onthophagus (tribe Onthophagini) were collected using dung from various animals as bait. All these species were recorded for the first time from Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar. Detailed illustrations of each species are provided to aid in the identification of Scarabaeoid beetles in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a concerted research effort to design management strategies for an economic insect pest of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), viz., Analeptes trifasciata Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), also known as the stem girdler, it became necessary to understand the biotic and abiotic factors influencing its population fluctuation. The population dynamics of A. trifasciata and its relationship with crop phenology (flushing, senescence, flower initiation, fruit development and maturation stages) and weather factors (average temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) were investigated from 2017 to 2019 at the cashew orchard of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, Nigeria. Observations were recorded at monthly intervals for the duration. The period of incidence was from May to December. Peak abundance, which coincided with the wet season as well as senescence and flower initiation stages, were not significantly correlated. Adult abundance of A. trifasciata was conspicuously low during the fruit development and maturation stages, this stage coincided with the peak of the dry season. However, there was no significant correlation between the pest abundance and crop phenological stages. The male to female ratio was 1:0.81 (÷2 =1.313, df =1, p =0.252). The abundance of A. trifasciata significantly but negatively correlated (r = -0.73) with temperature. Relative humidity (r = 0.30) and rainfall (r = 0.24) showed non-significant association with stem-girdler population. Our findings indicated that temperature is the major predictor of A. trifasciata population fluctuation irrespective of the phenological stage. These findings can be useful for developing a forecasting model for its early detection and appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]