DOCSLIB.ORG

Small Genome Symbiont Underlies Cuticle Hardness in Beetles

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Small Genome Symbiont Underlies Cuticle Hardness in Beetles Small genome symbiont underlies cuticle hardness in beetles Hisashi Anbutsua,b,1,2, Minoru Moriyamaa,1, Naruo Nikohc,1, Takahiro Hosokawaa,d, Ryo Futahashia, Masahiko Tanahashia, Xian-Ying Menga, Takashi Kuriwadae,f, Naoki Morig, Kenshiro Oshimah, Masahira Hattorih,i, Manabu Fujiej, Noriyuki Satohk, Taro Maedal, Shuji Shigenobul, Ryuichi Kogaa, and Takema Fukatsua,m,n,2 aBioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan; bComputational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; cDepartment of Liberal Arts, The Open University of Japan, Chiba 261-8586, Japan; dFaculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; eNational Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, Okinawa 901-0336, Japan; fFaculty of Education, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; gDivision of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan; hGraduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan; iGraduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; jDNA Sequencing Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; kMarine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; lNIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan; mDepartment of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; and nGraduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan Edited by Nancy A. Moran, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, and approved August 28, 2017 (received for review July 19, 2017) Beetles, representing the majority of the insect species diversity, are symbiont transmission over evolutionary time (4, 6, 7). Some bac- characterized by thick and hard cuticle, which plays important roles terial symbionts of plant-sucking insects like cicadas, leafhoppers, for their environmental adaptation and underpins their inordinate spittlebugs, psyllids, and mealybugs belonging to the order Hemi- diversity and prosperity. Here, we report a bacterial endosymbiont ptera, which are associated with multiple endocellular bacterial extremely specialized for sustaining beetle’s cuticle formation. cosymbionts within the symbiotic organ called the bacteriome, have γ Many weevils are associated with a -proteobacterial endosymbiont experienced extreme genome reduction down to 0.2 Mb or smaller Nardonella lineage , whose evolutionary origin is estimated as older with 200 or less protein-coding genes (8–13), suggesting that met- than 100 million years, but its functional aspect has been elusive. abolic complementation between the cosymbionts may have fur- Sequencing of Nardonella genomes from diverse weevils unveiled ther facilitated the reductive genome evolution entailing losses of drastic size reduction to 0.2 Mb, in which minimal complete gene – sets for bacterial replication, transcription, and translation were pre- otherwise essential genes in either of the cosymbionts (7, 14 17). In this study, we report another case of extremely reduced sent but almost all of the other metabolic pathway genes were missing. Notably, the only metabolic pathway retained in the symbiont genome in a different insect group through a different Nardonella genomes was the tyrosine synthesis pathway, identifying evolutionary trajectory. Beetles, comprising the insect order tyrosine provisioning as Nardonella’s sole biological role. Weevils are Coleoptera, represent the majority of the biodiversity described armored with hard cuticle, tyrosine is the principal precursor for cu- ticle formation, and experimental suppression of Nardonella resulted Significance in emergence of reddish and soft weevils with low tyrosine titer, confirming the importance of Nardonella-mediated tyrosine produc- Beetles are successful in the terrestrial ecosystem, which is tion for host’s cuticle formation and hardening. Notably, Nardonella’s attributable to, at least partly, their highly sclerotized exo- tyrosine synthesis pathway was incomplete, lacking the final step skeleton. Here, we report a bacterial symbiont extremely spe- transaminase gene. RNA sequencing identified host’s aminotransfer- cialized for underpinning the beetle’s hardness. The ancient ase genes up-regulated in the bacteriome. RNA interference target- endosymbiont Nardonella associated with weevils has an ex- ing the aminotransferase genes induced reddish and soft weevils tremely small genome devoted to a single biological function, with low tyrosine titer, verifying host’s final step regulation of the tyrosine provisioning, which is needed for insect’s cuticle for- tyrosine synthesis pathway. Our finding highlights an impressively mation and hardening. Notably, only the final step reaction of intimate and focused aspect of the host–symbiont metabolic integ- the tyrosine synthesis pathway is complemented by host- rity via streamlined evolution for a single biological function of encoded aminotransferases up-regulated in the bacteriome, ecological relevance. highlighting a highly focused aspect of the host–symbiont metabolic integrity. Both symbiont suppression by an antibiotic weevil | Nardonella | symbiont | genome | tyrosine and RNA interference of the host aminotransferases induce reddish and soft weevils, verifying the pivotal role of the ymbiotic associations with microorganisms are ubiquitously symbiosis for the beetle’s hardness. Sfound in a variety of insects, which are rated among the im- portant factors underpinning their adaptation, diversity, and pros- Author contributions: H.A., M.M., N.N., T.H., and T.F. designed research; H.A., N.N., T.H., – M.T., X.-Y.M., T.K., N.M., K.O., M.F., T.M., and R.K. performed research; M.H., N.S., and S.S. perity (1 3). Many bacterial symbionts are indispensable for contributed new reagents/analytic tools; H.A., M.M., N.N., T.H., R.F., M.T., K.O., M.F., and growth, survival, and reproduction of their insect hosts via, for T.M. analyzed data; and H.A., M.M., N.N., R.F., and T.F. wrote the paper. example, provisioning of essential nutrients like amino acids and The authors declare no conflict of interest. vitamins, where the host and the symbiont are integrated into an This article is a PNAS Direct Submission. almost inseparable biological entity (4, 5). In such obligate symbi- Freely available online through the PNAS open access option. otic associations, the symbiont genomes tend to exhibit conspicu- Data deposition: The sequences reported in this paper have been deposited in the DNA ous structural degeneration, massive gene losses, and drastic size Data Bank Japan Read Archive, www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp (accession nos. AP018159–AP018162, reduction, which are attributable to relaxed natural selection acting LC260175–LC260180, LC260491, and DRR095964–DRR095975). on many symbiont genes no longer necessary for the permanent 1H.A., M.M. and N.N. contributed equally to this work. intrahost lifestyle, and also to accumulation of deleterious muta- 2To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: [email protected] or t-fukatsu@ tions driven by attenuated natural selection acting on the symbiont aist.go.jp. genomes due to strong population bottlenecks and restricted This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. horizontal gene acquisitions associated with continuous vertical 1073/pnas.1712857114/-/DCSupplemental. E8382–E8391 | PNAS | Published online September 18, 2017 www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1712857114 Downloaded by guest on October 2, 2021 – ’ PNAS PLUS A C lasting host symbiont coevolution, Nardonella s biological role Bacteriome has been poorly understood (26). Previous studies have identi- fied a number of weevil lineages in which Nardonella infections have been lost or replaced by different bacterial lineages, uncovering a strikingly dynamic aspect of the endosymbiotic evolution in the insect group (23, 24, 32–35). Here, we report genomic, transcriptomic, and functional 1 cm analyses of the Nardonella symbionts associated with diverse 5 mm weevils, which unveiled their extremely reduced genomes down B to as small as 0.2 Mb in the absence of any cosymbionts. The tiny Midgut genomes encode minimal but complete gene sets for bacterial 500 m Foregut replication, transcription, and translation, while lacking almost E all of the other metabolic pathway genes, which indicate Nar- donella’s near-complete dependence on host-derived metabolites D toward a minimal cellular entity through the ancient coevolu- tionary history. Notably, a set of metabolic genes is conspicu- ously retained in the Nardonella genomes, namely synthesis pathway genes for a specific amino acid, tyrosine. Weevils are Oocyte armored with hard cuticle, tyrosine is the principal precursor 1 mm needed for cuticle formation, and the Nardonella genome has G 1 m been streamlined for a single biological function, tyrosine pro- 200 µm visioning, for sustaining the weevil’s highly sclerotized exoskeleton, which elucidates the general importance of endosymbiont- F provisioned tyrosine for cuticle formation in weevils (36, 37), and potentially also in other beetles. Furthermore, we demon- strate that, reflecting the absence of transcriptional regulators
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Adult Postabdomen, Immature Stages and Biology of Euryommatus Mariae Roger, 1856 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), a Legendary Weevil in Europe
    insects Article Adult Postabdomen, Immature Stages and Biology of Euryommatus mariae Roger, 1856 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), a Legendary Weevil in Europe Rafał Gosik 1,*, Marek Wanat 2 and Marek Bidas 3 1 Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie–Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland 2 Museum of Natural History, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland; [email protected] 3 ul. Prosta 290 D/2, 25-385 Kielce, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: Euryommatus mariae is a legendary weevil species in Europe, first described in the 19th century and not collected through the 20th century. Though rediscovered in the 21st century at few localities in Poland, Austria, and Germany, it remains one of the rarest of European weevils, and its biology is unknown. We present the first descriptions of the larva and pupa of E. mariae, and confirm its saproxylic lifestyle. The differences and similarities between immatures of E. mariae and the genera Coryssomerus, Cylindrocopturus and Eulechriopus are discussed, and a list of larval characters common to all Conoderitae is given. The characters of adult postabdomen are described and illustrated for the first time for diagnostic purposes. Our study confirmed the unusual structure of the male endophallus, equipped with an extremely long ejaculatory duct enclosed in a peculiar fibrous conduit, not seen in other weevils. We hypothesize that the extraordinarily long Citation: Gosik, R.; Wanat, M.; Bidas, and spiral spermathecal duct is the female’s evolutionary response to the male’s extremely long M.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 15. Central and Eastern Africa: Overview
    Chapter 15 Chapter 15 CENTRAL AND EASTERN AFRICA: OVERVIEW The region as treated here is comprised mainly of Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa) (formerly Zaire), Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The wide variety of insects eaten includes at least 163 species, 121 genera, 34 families and 10 orders. Of this group the specific identity is known for 128 species, only the generic identity for another 21, only the family identity of another 12 and only the order identity of one. Gomez et al (1961) estimated that insects furnished 10% of the animal proteins produced annually in Congo (Kinshasa). Yet, in this region, as in others, insect use has been greatly under-reported and under-studied. Until recently, for example, the specific identity was known for fewer than twenty species of insects used in Congo (Kinshasa), but, in a careful study confined only to caterpillars and only to the southern part of the country, Malaisse and Parent (1980) distinguished 35 species of caterpillars used as food. The extent of insect use throughout the region is probably similar to that in Congo (Kinshasa) and Zambia, the best-studied countries. Research is needed. Caterpillars and termites are the most widely marketed insects in the region, but many others are also important from the food standpoint, nutritionally, economically or ecologically. As stated by this author (DeFoliart 1989): "One can't help but wonder what the ecological and nutritional maps of Africa might look like today if more effort had been directed toward developing some of these caterpillar, termite, and other food insect resources." The inclusion of food insects in the Africa-wide Exhibition on Indigenous Food Technologies held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1995 is indicative of the resurgence of interest in this resource by the scientific community of the continent.
    [Show full text]
  • 2007151117.Full.Pdf
    Spatial and morphological reorganization of endosymbiosis during metamorphosis accommodates adult metabolic requirements in a weevil Justin Mairea,1, Nicolas Parisota, Mariana Galvao Ferrarinia, Agnès Valliera, Benjamin Gilletb, Sandrine Hughesb, Séverine Balmanda, Carole Vincent-Monégata, Anna Zaidman-Rémya,2, and Abdelaziz Heddia,2 aUMR0203, Biologie Fonctionnelle, Insectes et Interactions (BF2i), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA-Lyon), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Université de Lyon (Univ Lyon), F-69621 Villeurbanne, France; and bUMR5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon (Univ Lyon), F-69007 Lyon, France Edited by John R. Pringle, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, and approved June 25, 2020 (received for review April 15, 2020) Bacterial intracellular symbiosis (endosymbiosis) is widespread in allows adaptive decoupling: for example, task specialization of nature and impacts many biological processes. In holometabolous growth at the larval stage versus reproduction at the adult stage symbiotic insects, metamorphosis entails a complete and abrupt (9, 10). However, metamorphosis is also associated with con- internal reorganization that creates a constraint for endosymbiont straints, including higher susceptibility to predators and patho- transmission from larvae to adults. To assess how endosymbiosis gens, as well as the conservation and adaptation of beneficial copes—and potentially evolves—throughout this major host-tissue symbionts (9, 11). In hemimetabolous insects, the relative mor- reorganization, we used the association between the cereal weevil phological stability associated with incomplete metamorphosis is Sitophilus oryzae and the bacterium Sodalis pierantonius as a model believed to facilitate symbiont maintenance and transmission system.
    [Show full text]
  • Chicago Joins New York in Battle with the Asian Longhorned Beetle Therese M
    Chicago Joins New York in Battle with the Asian Longhorned Beetle Therese M. Poland, Robert A. Haack, Toby R. Petrice USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, 1407 S. Harrison Rd., Rm. 220, E. Lansing, MI 48823 The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), was positively iden- would follow New York’s lead tified on 13 July 1998 attacking trees in an area of and that infested trees would northern Chicago known as Ravenswood. Previ- be cut, chipped, burned and ously, the only known North American occur- replaced by new trees at the rence of this Asian cerambycid beetle was in the city’s expense. Amityville area and the Brooklyn area of Long The city of Chicago ben- Island, New York, where it was discovered in efited greatly from New August 1996 (Haack et al. 1996, Cavey et al. York’s experience in imple- 1998). In New York, this woodborer has attacked menting its eradication program. With an excellent species of maple (Acer), horsechestnut (Aesculus well as 1 square mile each in Addison and in leadership team and organization, the city of hippocastanum), birch (Betula), poplar (Populus), Summit. Extensive surveys were conducted out Chicago obtained public cooperation and support willow (Salix), and elm (Ulmus) (Haack et al. to 1 ¼ miles past the outer boundary of known for the eradication program from the outset. The 1997). Because of the potential for longterm infested trees at all three locations. Survey crews media provided excellent, factual and accurate ecological and economic damage an aggressive were composed of APHIS inspectors, federal, information through extensive television, newspa- eradication program that involves locating, re- state and city employees as well as APHIS trained per, and radio coverage.
    [Show full text]
  • Effect of Pine Wilt Disease Control on the Distribution of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
    Regular Article pISSN: 2288-9744, eISSN: 2288-9752 J F E S Journal of Forest and Environmental Science Journal of Forest and Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 248-257, December, 2019 Environmental Science https://doi.org/10.7747/JFES.2019.35.4.248 Effect of Pine Wilt Disease Control on the Distribution of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Young-Jin Heo, Man-Leung Ha, Jun-Young Park, Snag-Gon Lee and Chong-Kyu Lee* Department of Forest Resources, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea Abstract We chose the Mt. Dalum area (located in Gijang-gun, Busan, Korea) for our survey, particularly The pine wilt disease zone and the non-permanent control area. This study investigates the effect of pine wilt disease on the distribution of beetle species in the process of ecosystem change due to insect control; pine forests treated for pine wilt disease were divided into insect control and non-control sites, respectively. The results of this study are as follows. Twen tyseven species belongs to 12 families were identified from 969 ground beetles collected from this sites. Species richness was the highest in Coleoptera (6 species, 469 individuals). In the control site, 21 species belongs to 10 families were identified from 228 individuals, while 24 species of 11 families from 533 individuals in the non-control area. The highest number of species were noted in June and July from the non- control and control sites, respectively. The highest number of insects in control and non-control sites was observed in July, while the lowest in September.
    [Show full text]
  • Sweetpotato Major Pests.P65
    Sweetpotato:Sweetpotato:Sweetpotato: MajorMajorMajor PPPests,ests,ests, Diseases,Diseases, andand NutritionalNutritional DisordersDisordersDisorders T. Ames, N.E.J.M. Smit, A.R. Braun, J.N. O’Sullivan, and L.G. Skoglund ISBN 92-9060-187-6 Sweetpotato: Major Pests, Diseases, and Nutritional Disorders T. Ames, N.E.J.M. Smit, A.R. Braun, J.N. O’Sullivan, and L.G. Skoglund International Potato Center (CIP) C O N T E N T S The International Potato Center (CIP) is a scientific, nonprofit institution dedicated to the increased and more sustainable use of potato, Page sweetpotato, and other roots and tubers in the Foreword vii developing world, and to the improved management of agricultural resources in the Acknowledgments viii Andes and other mountain areas. CIP is part of the global agricultural research network known as the Consultative Group on Introduction 1 International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). CGIAR Insect Pests of Sweetpotato and Their Management 3 International Potato Center Apartado 1558 Storage Root Feeders 4 Lima 12, Peru Sweetpotato Weevils (Cylas spp.) 4 West Indian Sweetpotato Weevil (Euscepes ISBN 92-9060-187-6 postfasciatus)10 Press run: 1000 Rough Sweetpotato Weevil (Blosyrus sp.) 12 Printed in Lima, Peru August, 1997 Clearwing Moth (Synanthedon spp.) 14 Peloropus Weevil (Peloropus batatae)14 Cover: Photo of chlorotic spots with and without purple margins induced White Grubs 15 by SPFMV (taken by S. Fuentes). Stemborers and Feeders 16 T. Ames, N.E.J.M. Smit, A.R. Braun, J.N. O’Sullivan, and L.G. Skoglund. Clearwing Moth (Synanthedon spp.) 16 1996. Sweetpotato: Major Pests, Diseases, and Nutritional Disorders.
    [Show full text]
  • Variability and Distribution of the Golden-Headed Weevil Compsus Auricephalus (Say) (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini)
    Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e55474 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.8.e55474 Single Taxon Treatment Variability and distribution of the golden-headed weevil Compsus auricephalus (Say) (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini) Jennifer C. Girón‡, M. Lourdes Chamorro§ ‡ Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, United States of America § Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, c/o National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America Corresponding author: Jennifer C. Girón ([email protected]) Academic editor: Li Ren Received: 15 Jun 2020 | Accepted: 03 Jul 2020 | Published: 09 Jul 2020 Citation: Girón JC, Chamorro ML (2020) Variability and distribution of the golden-headed weevil Compsus auricephalus (Say) (Curculionidae: Entiminae: Eustylini). Biodiversity Data Journal 8: e55474. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.8.e55474 Abstract Background The golden-headed weevil Compsus auricephalus is a native and fairly widespread species across the southern U.S.A. extending through Central America south to Panama. There are two recognised morphotypes of the species: the typical green form, with pink to cupreous head and part of the legs and the uniformly white to pale brown form. There are other Central and South American species of Compsus and related genera of similar appearance that make it challenging to provide accurate identifications of introduced species at ports of entry. New information Here, we re-describe the species, provide images of the habitus, miscellaneous morphological structures and male and female genitalia. We discuss the morphological variation of Compsus auricephalus across its distributional range, by revising and updating This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Microbiome in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Insight Into the Microbiome–Treatment Axis
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Role of the Microbiome in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Insight into the Microbiome–Treatment Axis Amel Sami 1,2, Imad Elimairi 2,* , Catherine Stanton 1,3, R. Paul Ross 1 and C. Anthony Ryan 4 1 APC Microbiome Ireland, School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland; [email protected] (A.S.); [email protected] (C.S.); [email protected] (R.P.R.) 2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, National Ribat University, Nile Street, Khartoum 1111, Sudan 3 Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork P61 C996, Ireland 4 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork T12 DFK4, Ireland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 30 August 2020; Accepted: 12 October 2020; Published: 29 October 2020 Abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the leading presentations of head and neck cancer (HNC). The first part of this review will describe the highlights of the oral microbiome in health and normal development while demonstrating how both the oral and gut microbiome can map OSCC development, progression, treatment and the potential side effects associated with its management. We then scope the dynamics of the various microorganisms of the oral cavity, including bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi, archaea and viruses, and describe the characteristic roles they may play in OSCC development. We also highlight how the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) may impinge on the host microbiome and increase the burden of oral premalignant lesions and OSCC in patients with HIV. Finally, we summarise current insights into the microbiome–treatment axis pertaining to OSCC, and show how the microbiome is affected by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and also how these therapies are affected by the state of the microbiome, potentially determining the success or failure of some of these treatments.
    [Show full text]
  • Weevils) of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Virginia
    September 2020 The Maryland Entomologist Volume 7, Number 4 The Maryland Entomologist 7(4):43–62 The Curculionoidea (Weevils) of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Virginia Brent W. Steury1*, Robert S. Anderson2, and Arthur V. Evans3 1U.S. National Park Service, 700 George Washington Memorial Parkway, Turkey Run Park Headquarters, McLean, Virginia 22101; [email protected] *Corresponding author 2The Beaty Centre for Species Discovery, Research and Collection Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, PO Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, ON. K1P 6P4, CANADA;[email protected] 3Department of Recent Invertebrates, Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, Virginia 24112; [email protected] ABSTRACT: One-hundred thirty-five taxa (130 identified to species), in at least 97 genera, of weevils (superfamily Curculionoidea) were documented during a 21-year field survey (1998–2018) of the George Washington Memorial Parkway national park site that spans parts of Fairfax and Arlington Counties in Virginia. Twenty-three species documented from the parkway are first records for the state. Of the nine capture methods used during the survey, Malaise traps were the most successful. Periods of adult activity, based on dates of capture, are given for each species. Relative abundance is noted for each species based on the number of captures. Sixteen species adventive to North America are documented from the parkway, including three species documented for the first time in the state. Range extensions are documented for two species. Images of five species new to Virginia are provided. Keywords: beetles, biodiversity, Malaise traps, national parks, new state records, Potomac Gorge. INTRODUCTION This study provides a preliminary list of the weevils of the superfamily Curculionoidea within the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) national park site in northern Virginia.
    [Show full text]
  • Biosecurity Risk Assessment
    An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries RIRDC Publication No. 11/141 RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries by Dr Robert C Keogh February 2012 RIRDC Publication No. 11/141 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-007347 © 2012 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-320-8 ISSN 1440-6845 An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries Publication No. 11/141 Project No. PRJ-007347 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Distributional and Ecological Notes on Pachyrhynchus Apoensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae)
    Elytra, Tokyo, New Series, 6 (1): 10–12 May10 25, 2016 Analyn A. CABRAS and Hiraku YOSHITAKE Distributional and Ecological Notes on Pachyrhynchus apoensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) 1) 2)* Analyn A. CABRAS and Hiraku YOSHITAKE 1) Math and Science Department, College of Arts and Science Education, University of Mindanao, Bolton Street, Davao City, 8000 Philippines 2) Natural Resources Inventory Center, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3‒1‒3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305‒8604 Japan *Corresponding author Pachyrhynchus apoensis belonging to the tribe Pachyrhynchini, subfamily Entiminae was described by YO- SHITAKE (2012) from Mt. Apo, Mindanao, the Philippines. In contrast to the detailed morphological description based on a large number of museum specimens labelled as “Mt. Apo”, the precise distribution of this species in Mt. Apo, which is a large mountain mass with the country’s highest peak, has been unknown to date. In addition, nothing has hitherto been known about its ecology. From October to November, 2015, we conducted field sur- veys for Pachyrhynchini weevils along the following three trails in Mount Apo Natural Park: 1) Mandarangan Trail, Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City, Cotabato, 2) Balutakay Trail, Barangay Managa, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, and 3) Bongolanon Trail, Barangay Bongolanon, Magpet, Cotabato. As a result of our field observations, we obtained some distributional and ecological data of P. apoensis as reported below. We thank A. DACULA, G. EPHAN, D. A. HERDILES, K. JUMAWAN and G. NIQUE for their various help in the course of this study. Pachyrhynchus apoensis YOSHITAKE, 2012 Pachyrhynchus apoensis YOSHITAKE, 2012: 32 (type locality: “Mindanao I., Mt. Apo”; type depository: National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba).
    [Show full text]
  • Investigation of the Selective Color-Changing Mechanism
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Investigation of the selective color‑changing mechanism of Dynastes tityus beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Jiyu Sun1, Wei Wu2, Limei Tian1*, Wei Li3, Fang Zhang3 & Yueming Wang4* Not only does the Dynastes tityus beetle display a reversible color change controlled by diferences in humidity, but also, the elytron scale can change color from yellow‑green to deep‑brown in specifed shapes. The results obtained by focused ion beam‑scanning electron microscopy (FIB‑SEM), show that the epicuticle (EPI) is a permeable layer, and the exocuticle (EXO) is a three‑dimensional photonic crystal. To investigate the mechanism of the reversible color change, experiments were conducted to determine the water contact angle, surface chemical composition, and optical refectance, and the refective spectrum was simulated. The water on the surface began to permeate into the elytron via the surface elemental composition and channels in the EPI. A structural unit (SU) in the EXO allows local color changes in varied shapes. The refectance of both yellow‑green and deep‑brown elytra increases as the incidence angle increases from 0° to 60°. The microstructure and changes in the refractive index are the main factors that infuence the process of reversible color change. According to the simulation, the lower refectance causing the color change to deep‑brown results from water infltration, which increases light absorption. Meanwhile, the waxy layer has no efect on the refection of light. This study lays the foundation to manufacture engineered photonic materials that undergo controllable changes in iridescent color. Te varied colors of nature have a great visual impact on human beings.
    [Show full text]