Structure of the mushroom bodies in Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera): 1. Basal families and coprophagous scarabaeidae

Mushroom bodies are in general similarly developed in most taxons studied. The calyx region appears as a single structure, and its dual nature is not yet realized. An anterio-posterior asymmetry of the calyx region with Kenyon cell processes running mostly behind the glomerular neuropil of the calyx is characteristic of all the species studied. In this respect, the calyx region of basal Scarabaeoidea resembles greatly the calyx of many dipterans. Lobe compartmentalization occurs at the initial stage. The passalid beetles represent an exception, as their mushroom bodies are much more developed than in related families. This may be connected with the complicated social behavior of Passalidae.     

Some cetoniinae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) have structurally different medial and lateral calyces of mushroom bodies

Structural differences between the medial and lateral calyces of mushroom bodies in insects are described for the first time. In two cetoniine scarab beetles, Cetonia aurata and Oxythyrea funesta, the lateral calyces are subdivided into two portions showing a different neuropil structure. This feature is not reflected in the structure of the pedunculus and lobes, as well as in the relative neuropil volume occupied by transformed lateral calyx as compared with unmodified lateral calyx of related scarab beetles. The lateral calyx modification is considered to be related to changes in dendritic arborizations of central Kenyon cells. The subdivision of lateral calyx occurs only in adults and was not observed in larvae.     

Evolution of the scarab hindwing articulation and wing base: a contribution toward the phylogeny of the Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeoidea: Coleoptera)

A study is made of the articulation and base of hindwings of Scarabaeidae. The survey is based on an examination of over 150 genera from sixteen scarabaeid subfamilies and taxa of uncertain phylogenetic status. Relationships among all subfamilies of Scarabaeidae are examined here for the first time. The constructed phylogeny shows that the scarabaeid lineage (Scarabaeidae) is comprised of two major lines: an aphodiine line (containing Aphodiinae, including Aegialiini, Aulonocnemis and Scarabaeinae), and an orphnine line (containing Orphninae, Melolonthinae, Acoma , Chnaunanthus , Hopliini, Oncerus , Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Trichiinae, Cetoniinae, Osmoderma and Valginae).     

Phylogeny and systematics of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

Abstract. A cladistic analysis of the Trogidae using eighteen adult characters resulted in a monophyletic group from which the genera Glaresis Erichson, Afroglaresis Petrovitz and Cryptogenius Westwood are excluded. The Trogidae as here defined comprises three genera, Trox Fabricius (with two subgenera, Trox and Phoberus Macleay), Omorgus Erichson (with three subgenera, Omorgus, Afromorgus subg.n. and Haroldomorgus subg.n.) and Polynoncus Burmeister.     

Karyotype analysis, banding, and fluorescent in situ hybridization in the scarab beetle Gymnopleurus sturmi McLeay (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea : Scarabaeidae)

Conventional staining, differential banding, and in situ hybridization with both ribosomal and telomeric probes to mitotic chromosomes of Gymnopleurus sturmi (Scarabaeoidea : Scarabaeidae) are described. The karyotype is distinguished by a pericentric inversion polymorphism in chromosome 3, which is either acrocentric or subtelocentric. Silver staining (Ag-NOR) and chromomycin A3 (CMA3), failed to study the detection of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), due to the extensive silver and CMA3 stainability of all GC-rich heterochromatin. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using a Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata) rDNA probe mapped the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA). FISH with the all-human telomeric sequences (TTAGGG)n revealed a lack of homology between the telomeric probe and the telomeres of G. sturmi. This suggests that the telomeric hesanucleotide (TTAGGG)n is not so conserved within eukaryotes as it has been hypothesized.     

Structure and function of the mandibles of adult dung beetles (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae)

The mouthparts of adult dung beetles (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae) are adapted for manipulation of soft, pasty food—usually the excrement of vertebrates. Nutrients are derived primarily from micro-organisms contained in the food and these must be broken up before ingestion. The mandibles, particularly the molar lobes, are designed to finely grind these particulates; the molae function as a mortar-pestle system, which mills the organic “grist” contained in the food by a combination of squeezing and grinding actions. The ability of the molae to finely grind food particles resides primarily in the structure of the molar surface, which consists of a series of ridges bearing rows of submicroscopic scrapers (“tritors”). The incisor lobes of the mandibles scrape food from the surfaces of the galeae and lacinae, which bring food into the preoral cavity. The structure of the mouthparts of Canthon pilularius (L.), which is described in detail, is basically the same as that of 10 other species examined. Those of Aphodius and Geotrupes are similar in some respects to those of scarabaeines but are obviously less well specialized for microphagy.     

The phylogeny of Iberian Aphodiini species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae) based on morphology

Abstract.  The phylogeny of Iberian Aphodiini species was reconstructed based on morphology. Wing venation, mouthparts, male and female genitalia, and external morphology provided ninety-four characters scored for ninety-three Aphodiini species. Phylogenetic analyses were based on maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference criteria. Maximum parsimony consensus trees recovered Acrossus species as a sister group of the remaining Aphodiini, followed by two other branches, one including Neagolius , Plagiogonus , Ahermodontus and Ammoecius species, and the other including Oxyomus , Nimbus , Heptaulacus and Euheptaulacus species. The remaining studied taxa clustered in an unresolved group. Bayesian inference trees recovered Acrossus as the sister group of the remaining Iberian Aphodiini, followed by Colobopterus erraticus and the rest of the Iberian Aphodiini, but this latter branch was unresolved. The general lack of statistical support for the inferred phylogenetic relationships at terminal nodes using both maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference suggests that variation in morphological characters useful for phylogenetic inference in the present study is small, perhaps as a consequence of a radiation event occurring at the origin of the tribe. A probable evolutionary pattern for Aphodiini is proposed which infers six groups, namely Acrossian, Ammoecian, Oxyomian, Aphodian s.str., Colobopteran and Aphodian s.l. clades.     

Lamellicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Korea and Mongolia

This work was undertaken as an initial part of the collaborative effort between Korean and Mongolian researchers to study the terrestrial and aquatic insects in these countries. An analysis of data on faunal composition, taxonomic diversity and biogeographical structure of lamellicorn beetles in Korea and Mongolia was conducted in order to characterize the faunal relations between two countries. The Korean fauna of lamellicorn beetles is almost two fold greater in both generic diversity and species richness than that of Mongolia. The species compositions of lamellicorn beetles in two countries are substantially different from each other and the relative levels of faunal overlap are insignificant. Not only the faunal diversity and composition, but also the biogeographical structure of lamellicorn beetles in Korea and Mongolia display dissimilar patterns, except for their similar degree of endemism. Additional data on communities of dung beetles in the grasslands of central Mongolia, as well as a brief discussion on conservation issues of the endangered species in Korea, especially Gymnopleurus mopsus, are given.     

Glaresidae, archaeopteryx of the Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera)

Abstract. Evidence is presented that Glaresidae are the most primitive livinj scarabaeoid group and as such represent the sister group of the rest of the Scarabaeoidea. This is based on a review of the states of seventy-two morphologica characters. The plesiomorphic states of many characters are unique to the Glaresidae or are shared with other primitive scarabaeoids; seven may be synapomorphic with other groups and two are autapomorphic for the family.     

Rearing Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Interaction between larvae can be a cause of mortality when scarabaeid larvae are concentrated in a confined volume of soil. Larvae of Costelytra zealandica (White), the New Zealand grass grub, were held for 30 days at population densities between 1 and 50 larvae per 200 ml of medium, and the effect of crowding on their survival and weight change was assessed. Larval density had no effect on survival in soil plus chopped sheep dung (3 :1), with up to 10 2nd‐instar larvae or 5 3rd‐instar larvae per 200 ml of medium. Larval survival and weight gain were increased by adding germinating ryegrass seed (Grasslands Ruanui) to the medium base, but the effect of density did not diminish. Weight gain of 3rd‐instar larvae decreased as their density increased. When the amount of germinating ryegrass seed in the medium was varied, there was no significant difference between the survival of larvae held in treatments with 5, 25, and 50 g of seed per litre of medium. Survival was significantly lower with 0 and 100 g of seed per litre of medium. It is concluded that, in rearing conditions, the final density of fully grown 3rd‐instar larvae should be a maximum of about 20 per litre of medium to prevent mortality caused by larval interaction—provided that adequate food is available.     

A phylogeny of the families of Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera)

Abstract. A study, based on examination of thirteen scarabaeoid families, was made of 134 adult and larval characters from the following character suites: 105 adult characters of the antennae, eye, epipharynx, mandible, maxillae, labium, tentorium, trochantin, procoxae, mesocoxae, mesothoracic spiracles, hind wing articulation, hind wing base, hind wing venation, hind wing folding, abdominal sternites, abdominal spiracles, male genitalia, ovarioles and karyotype; twenty larval characters of the antennae, fronto-clypeal suture, stemmata, labial palpi, maxillae, mandibles, legs, stridulatory apparatus, spiracles and ecdysial process; and nine adult and larval biological characters. In order to assess the reliability of different characters in resolving scarabaeoid family relationships, six data sets were subjected to cladistic analysis: the total evidence character set (134 characters), restricted adult character set (thirty-two characters, not including those of the wings), wing character set (seventy-three characters), larval character set (twenty characters), biological character set (nine characters) and re-coded Howden (1982) character set (thirty-nine characters). The complete character set and wing character set both produced phylograms with all nodes resolved; the restricted adult data set, larval data set, Howden (1982) data set and biological data set produced phylograms with diminishing levels of node resolution. The reconstructed phylogeny, from the preferred phylogram of the total evidence character set, shows that the Scarabaeoidea comprises three major lineages; a glaresid, passalid and scarabaeid lineage. The glaresid lineage consists only of the Glaresidae. The passalid lineage comprises two major lines; a glaphyrid line (containing Glaphyridae, Passalidae, Lucanidae, Diphyllostomatidae, Trogidae, Bolboceratidae and Pleocomidae) and a geotrupid line (containing Geotrupidae, Ochodaeidae, Ceratocanthidae and Hybosoridae). The scarabaeid lineage contains those taxa traditionally included within the Scarabaeidae (Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae, Orphninae, Melolonthinae, Acoma, Chasmatopterinae, Hopliinae, Oncerinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Trichiinae, Cetoniinae and Valginae).     

Histological structure of tripartite mushroom bodies in ground beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Contrary to members of the suborder Polyphaga, ground beetles have been found to possess tripartite mushroom bodies, which are poorly developed in members of basal taxa and maximally elaborated in evolutionarily advanced groups. Nevertheless, they do not reach the developmental stage, which has been previously found in particular families of beetles. It has been pointed out that a new formation of the Kenyon cells occurs during at least the first months of adult life, and inactive neuroblasts are found even in one-year-old beetles. It has been suggested that there is a relation between the Kenyon cell number and development of the centers of Kenyon cell new-formation.     

铜绿丽金龟的室内人工饲养

对室内饲养铜绿丽金龟Anomala corpulenta Motschulsky的方法和主要影响因子进行了研究。结果表明：室内饲养的铜绿丽金龟种群完成一个世代平均为272.3天,3龄幼虫期比田间种群缩短了103.8天。在饲养过程中,幼虫的生长容易受到土壤湿度、食料、病原微生物的影响。卵的孵化率为86.0%,1龄、2龄和3龄幼虫的存活率分别为82.0%、76.0%和60.0%。10和15日龄幼虫在含有马铃薯的土壤中饲养14天后的死亡率分别为8.8%±16%和4.0%±1.6%,明显低于初孵幼虫及5日龄幼虫的死亡率,可以作为生物测定的最佳供试幼虫。紫外线处理的壤土和沙壤土中铜绿丽金龟幼虫可以正常生长,死亡率较低。     

中国皮金龟科分类研究（鞘翅目：金龟总科）

对皮金龟科的分类地位、分类研究历史和现状进行了简要回顾和总结,描述了皮金龟属Trox Fabricius 1775,2新种,即甘肃皮金龟T.(Trox) gansuensis sp.nov.(甘肃东部)和扁瘤皮金龟T.(Trox) placosalinus sp.nov(新疆北部)。模式标本存放于河北大学博物馆。     

Microbial Community Structure in Midgut and Hindgut of the Humus-Feeding Larva of Pachnoda ephippiata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The guts of soil-feeding macroinvertebrates contain a complex microbial community that is involved in the transformation of ingested soil organic matter. In a companion paper (T. Lemke, U. Stingl, M. Egert, M. W. Friedrich, and A. Brune, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:6650-6658, 2003), we show that the gut of our model organism, the humivorous larva of the cetoniid beetle Pachnoda ephippiata, is characterized by strong midgut alkalinity, high concentrations of microbial fermentation products, and the presence of a diverse, yet unstudied microbial community. Here, we report on the community structure of bacteria and archaea in the midgut, hindgut, and food soil of P. ephippiata larvae, determined with cultivation-independent techniques. Clone libraries and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed that the intestines of P. ephippiata larvae contain a complex gut microbiota that differs markedly between midgut and hindgut and that is clearly distinct from the microbiota in the food soil. The bacterial community is dominated by phylogenetic groups with a fermentative metabolism (Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, Bacillales, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides [CFB] phylum), which is corroborated by high lactate and acetate concentrations in the midgut and hindgut and by the large numbers of lactogenic and acetogenic bacteria in both gut compartments reported in the companion paper. Based on 16S rRNA gene frequencies, Actinobacteria dominate the alkaline midgut, while the hindgut is dominated by members of the CFB phylum. The archaeal community, however, is less diverse. 16S rRNA genes affiliated with mesophilic Crenarchaeota, probably stemming from the ingested soil, were most frequent in the midgut, whereas Methanobacteriaceae-related 16S rRNA genes were most frequent in the hindgut. These findings agree with the reported restriction of methanogenesis to the hindgut of Pachnoda larvae.     

Synopsis of Antitrogus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthini)

Abstract The genus Antitrogus Burmeister is widely distributed in eastern Australia and, because some species are significant pests of sugarcane, pastures and pineapples, it has attracted considerable research interest. This paper reviews the systematics, biology, ecology and management of the genus. The morphology of the 22 known species is described and a further species, A. gubbi sp. n. from south-eastern Queensland which was previously confused with A. robertsi Britton, is described. These species clearly divide into two species-groups: (i) those from south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Australia, which sometimes have closely related species pairs; and (ii) a more diverse group of species from central and northern Queensland. The latter is linked to A. villosus Allsopp from western Victoria, and this may indicate that further species await discovery in western New South Wales. Known life cycles are of 1 or 2 years. Adults fly for short periods following rain in spring or summer and do not feed. Adult females tend to disperse poorly, and this, coupled with ephemeral and localised rainfall, has probably contributed to speciation. Larvae feed on the roots of grasses and other similar plants. Insecticides are widely used to control them in sugarcane, but are too expensive for use on pastures. Integrating new controls with an emphasis on cultural controls is seen as the best way of managing these pest species.     

Pre-copulatory isolation in sympatric Melolontha species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

1 The two most abundant cockchafer species in Europe, the forest cockchafer Melolontha hippocastani Fabr. and the European cockchafer Melolontha melolontha L., tend to form calamitous mass breedings with casual reports on sympatric and simultaneous occurrence. 2 Both species are known to use feeding‐induced green leaf volatiles (GLV) as primary attractants (sexual kairomones) for mate finding. The attractiveness of GLV is enhanced by the sex pheromones 1,4‐benzoquinone in M. hippocastani and toluquinone in M. melolontha. Phenol attracts males from both species. All three compounds are present in females of both species. 3 In the present study, it is confirmed that only male M. melolontha perform the typical swarming flight at dusk, as has already been shown for M. hippocastani. Furthermore, whether swarming Melolontha males were cross‐attracted to heterospecific females, and whether males could discriminate olfactorily between conspecific and heterospecific females, was tested in the field. 4 Males of both species preferred females when given the choice between females and males of the other species. However, they preferred conspecific females when females from both species were offered simultaneously. 5 The results suggest that species‐specific pheromone blends contribute to precopulatory reproductive isolation in sympatric populations of M. melolontha and M. hippocastani, but are not mutually exclusive or indispensable prerequisites for mate finding as in other insects.     

Comparative histology of mushroom bodies in carnivorous beetles of the suborder polyphaga (Insecta, Coleoptera)

Mushroom bodies in beetles of the families Histeridae, Staphylinidae, Cantharidae, Trogossitidae, Peltidae, Cleridae, Malachiidae, and Coccinellidae are shown to be rather poorly developed. The calyx region of the mushroom bodies in these beetles never forms two separate cups, and the peduncular apparatus includes a unified shaft almost over its entire length. Only the pedunculus contains two separate shafts in a few cases. Two proliferative centers consisting of one to three neuroblasts are often found in each Kenyon cell group. The shift from carnivorous to feeding on pollen or leaves, which has taken place in some taxa, does not visibly affect the degree of mushroom body development.     

Evidence for male XO sex-chromosome system in Pentodon bidens punctatum (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) with X-linked 18S-28S rDNA clusters

In scarab beetle species of the genus Pentodon, the lack of analysis of sex chromosomes in females along with the poor characterization of sex chromosomes in the males, prevented all previous investigations from conclusively stating sex determination system. In this study, somatic chromosomes from females and spermatogonial chromosomes from males of Pentodon bidens punctatum (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) from Sicily have been analyzed using non-differential Giemsa staining. Two modal numbers of chromosomes were obtained: 2n = 20 and 19 in females and males, respectively. This finding along with other karyological characteristics such as the occurrence of one unpaired, heterotypic chromosome at metaphase-I and two types of metaphase-II spreads in spermatocytes demonstrate that a XO male/XX female sex determining mechanism - quite unusual among Scarabaeoidea - operates in the species investigated here. Spermatocyte chromosomes have also been examined after a number of banding techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridization with ribosomal sequences as a probe (rDNA FISH). The results obtained showed that silver and CMA(3) staining were inadequate to localize the chromosome sites of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) due to the over-all stainability of both constitutive heterochromatin and heterochromatin associated to the NORs. This suggests that heterochromatic DNA of P. b. punctatum is peculiar as compared with other types of heterochromatin studied so far in other invertebrate taxa. By rDNA FISH major ribosomal genes were mapped on the X chromosome.