Compass Cue Integration and Its Relation to the Visual Ecology of Three Tribes of Ball-Rolling Dung Beetles
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Sensory and Cognitive Adaptations to Social Living in Insect Societies Tom Wenseleersa,1 and Jelle S
COMMENTARY COMMENTARY Sensory and cognitive adaptations to social living in insect societies Tom Wenseleersa,1 and Jelle S. van Zwedena A key question in evolutionary biology is to explain the solitarily or form small annual colonies, depending upon causes and consequences of the so-called “major their environment (9). And one species, Lasioglossum transitions in evolution,” which resulted in the pro- marginatum, is even known to form large perennial euso- gressive evolution of cells, organisms, and animal so- cial colonies of over 400 workers (9). By comparing data cieties (1–3). Several studies, for example, have now from over 30 Halictine bees with contrasting levels of aimed to determine which suite of adaptive changes sociality, Wittwer et al. (7) now show that, as expected, occurred following the evolution of sociality in insects social sweat bee species invest more in sensorial machin- (4). In this context, a long-standing hypothesis is that ery linked to chemical communication, as measured by the evolution of the spectacular sociality seen in in- the density of their antennal sensillae, compared with sects, such as ants, bees, or wasps, should have gone species that secondarily reverted back to a solitary life- hand in hand with the evolution of more complex style. In fact, the same pattern even held for the socially chemical communication systems, to allow them to polymorphic species L. albipes if different populations coordinate their complex social behavior (5). Indeed, with contrasting levels of sociality were compared (Fig. whereas solitary insects are known to use pheromone 1, Inset). This finding suggests that the increased reliance signals mainly in the context of mate attraction and on chemical communication that comes with a social species-recognition, social insects use chemical sig- lifestyle indeed selects for fast, matching adaptations in nals in a wide variety of contexts: to communicate their sensory systems. -
Systematics of the Dung Beetle Tribe Sisyphini Mulsant (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) Inferred from a Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Southern African Species
Systematics of the dung beetle tribe Sisyphini Mulsant (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) inferred from a molecular phylogeny and biogeography of southern African species GIMO M. DANIEL1*, CATHERINE L. SOLE1**, ADRIAN L.V. DAVIS1, WERNER P. STRÜMPHER2 & CLARKE H. SCHOLTZ1 1Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 South Africa. Corresponding authors: Email: *[email protected]; **[email protected] 2Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Plant Health and Protection, Private Bag X134, Queenswood, 0121 South Africa. Running title: Sisyphini: assessment of evolution and systematics Abstract. The tribe Sisyphini Mulsant was recently redefined following the transfer of the endemic southern African genus Epirinus Dejean from the polyphyletic tribe Deltochilini Lacordaire. A molecular phylogeny of the southern African members of Sisyphini supports Epirinus as sister to Sisyphus Latreille and recovered three major clades in Sisyphus classified here as subgenera Sisyphus (Neosisyphus Müller) stat. rev., Sisyphus (Parasisyphus Barbero, Palestrini & Zunino) stat. n. and Sisyphus (Sisyphus) stat. n. A molecular clock analysis suggests that Sisyphus and Epirinus diverged from their last common ancestor during the Lower to Middle Oligocene (ca. 29.37 Ma). Biogeographical analysis indicated that southern African Sisyphus species are centred in the east and northeast in Highveld grassland and warmer savannah regions. By contrast, Epirinus species are largely restricted to the southwest and southeast in -
The Evolution and Genomic Basis of Beetle Diversity
The evolution and genomic basis of beetle diversity Duane D. McKennaa,b,1,2, Seunggwan Shina,b,2, Dirk Ahrensc, Michael Balked, Cristian Beza-Bezaa,b, Dave J. Clarkea,b, Alexander Donathe, Hermes E. Escalonae,f,g, Frank Friedrichh, Harald Letschi, Shanlin Liuj, David Maddisonk, Christoph Mayere, Bernhard Misofe, Peyton J. Murina, Oliver Niehuisg, Ralph S. Petersc, Lars Podsiadlowskie, l m l,n o f l Hans Pohl , Erin D. Scully , Evgeny V. Yan , Xin Zhou , Adam Slipinski , and Rolf G. Beutel aDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152; bCenter for Biodiversity Research, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152; cCenter for Taxonomy and Evolutionary Research, Arthropoda Department, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, 53113 Bonn, Germany; dBavarian State Collection of Zoology, Bavarian Natural History Collections, 81247 Munich, Germany; eCenter for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, 53113 Bonn, Germany; fAustralian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; gDepartment of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute for Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; hInstitute of Zoology, University of Hamburg, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany; iDepartment of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Wien, Wien 1030, Austria; jChina National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, 518083 Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; kDepartment of Integrative Biology, Oregon State -
The Functions and Evolution of Social Fluid Exchange in Ant Colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C
ISSN 1997-3500 Myrmecological News myrmecologicalnews.org Myrmecol. News 31: 1-30 doi: 10.25849/myrmecol.news_031:001 13 January 2021 Review Article Trophallaxis: the functions and evolution of social fluid exchange in ant colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C. LeBoeuf Abstract Trophallaxis is a complex social fluid exchange emblematic of social insects and of ants in particular. Trophallaxis behaviors are present in approximately half of all ant genera, distributed over 11 subfamilies. Across biological life, intra- and inter-species exchanged fluids tend to occur in only the most fitness-relevant behavioral contexts, typically transmitting endogenously produced molecules adapted to exert influence on the receiver’s physiology or behavior. Despite this, many aspects of trophallaxis remain poorly understood, such as the prevalence of the different forms of trophallaxis, the components transmitted, their roles in colony physiology and how these behaviors have evolved. With this review, we define the forms of trophallaxis observed in ants and bring together current knowledge on the mechanics of trophallaxis, the contents of the fluids transmitted, the contexts in which trophallaxis occurs and the roles these behaviors play in colony life. We identify six contexts where trophallaxis occurs: nourishment, short- and long-term decision making, immune defense, social maintenance, aggression, and inoculation and maintenance of the gut microbiota. Though many ideas have been put forth on the evolution of trophallaxis, our analyses support the idea that stomodeal trophallaxis has become a fixed aspect of colony life primarily in species that drink liquid food and, further, that the adoption of this behavior was key for some lineages in establishing ecological dominance. -
New Locality for the Endemic Mauritian Dung Beetle Nesosisyphus Pygmaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Phelsuma 15; 63-64 A wider range than suspected: new locality for the endemic Mauritian dung beetle Nesosisyphus pygmaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Saoud M. Motala 1,2 & Frank-Thorsten Krell 2 1 54, Mere Barthelemy street, Port-Louis, MAURITIUS [[email protected]] 2 Soil Biodiversity Programme, Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K. [[email protected]] Abstract: A second locality for the endemic Mauritian dung beetle Nesosisyphus pygmaeus Vinson (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is recorded. The disjunct range of this species comprises Mt Ory and Brise Fer. Keywords: Scarabaeidae, Sisyphini, dung beetles, distribution, Brise Fer The endemic Mauritian dung beetle genus Nesosisyphus Vinson was well studied by its author some fifty years ago (Vinson 1946, 1951). The four known species have restricted ranges in the mountainous parts of the island. With 2.3-3.2 mm body length, Nesosisyphus pygmaeus (Fig. 1) is the smallest member of the genus and the smallest roller dung beetle of the world (Haaf 1955, 1959). Despite being alate, the species has previously only been recorded from Mt Ory (Vinson 1958). Vinson (1951) presumed the cause of this restricted distribution to be the rapid loss of the surrounding pristine forest over the last century (e.g. Vaughan & Wiehe 1937). Recently, one of us (S.M.) found another population of Nesosisyphus pygmaeus in a new locality approximately 24 kilometres away from the already known locality Mt Ory, the details of which are as follows: MAURITIUS, Brise Fer Forest; 20°22’S, 57°26’W; 35 individuals, 01-06.vii.2003, using baited pitfall trap (suspended chicken manure). -
Vertical Lobes of the Mushroom Bodies Are Essential for View
Please cite this article in press as: Kamhi et al., Vertical Lobes of the Mushroom Bodies Are Essential for View-Based Navigation in Australian Myrmecia Ants, Current Biology (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.030 ll Report Vertical Lobes of the Mushroom Bodies Are Essential for View-Based Navigation in Australian Myrmecia Ants J. Frances Kamhi,1,2 Andrew B. Barron,1 and Ajay Narendra1,3,* 1Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia 2Neuroscience Department, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA 3Lead Contact *Correspondence: [email protected] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.030 SUMMARY Prior to leaving home, insects acquire visual landmark information through a series of well-choreographed walks or flights of learning [1–4]. This information allows them to pinpoint goals both when in their vicinity [5–7] and from locations they have not previously visited [8–10]. It is presumed that animals returning home match memorized views to their current view for successful view-based navigation [11]. While view- based navigation strategies have been incorporated into several navigation models [8, 12, 13], we still know little about how this behavior is performed by the insect brain. Mushroom bodies are essential for visual learning and memory [14–16], and therefore we investigated their role in view-based navigation in a visually oriented ant, Myrmecia midas. We injected the local anesthetic procaine [15, 17, 18] into the mushroom body vertical lobes (VLs) to selectively inhibit neural activity in this region. We compared the behavior of VL-pro- caine-treated ants with three groups: untreated control, VL-saline, and off-target (antennal lobe) procaine. -
Apidae: Meliponini)
J Comp Physiol A DOI 10.1007/s00359-016-1118-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Body size limits dim‑light foraging activity in stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) Martin Streinzer1,2 · Werner Huber3 · Johannes Spaethe1,4 Received: 23 March 2016 / Revised: 28 July 2016 / Accepted: 29 July 2016 © The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Stingless bees constitute a species-rich tribe ocelli diameter, ommatidia number, and facet diameter. of tropical and subtropical eusocial Apidae that act as All parameters significantly correlated with body size. important pollinators for flowering plants. Many foraging A disproportionately low light intensity threshold in tasks rely on vision, e.g. spatial orientation and detection the minute Trigonisca pipioli, together with a large eye of food sources and nest entrances. Meliponini workers parameter Peye suggests specific adaptations to circumvent are usually small, which sets limits on eye morphology the optical constraints imposed by the small body size. and thus quality of vision. Limitations are expected both We discuss the implications of body size in bees on forag- on acuity, and thus on the ability to detect objects from ing behavior. a distance, as well as on sensitivity, and thus on the for- aging time window at dusk and dawn. In this study, we Keywords Meliponini · Light intensity threshold · Vision · determined light intensity thresholds for flight under dim Compound eye · Body size light conditions in eight stingless bee species in relation to body size in a Neotropical lowland rainforest. Species varied in body size (0.8–1.7 mm thorax-width), and we Introduction found a strong negative correlation with light intensity thresholds (0.1–79 lx). -
An Inventory of Nepal's Insects
An Inventory of Nepal's Insects Volume III (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera & Diptera) V. K. Thapa An Inventory of Nepal's Insects Volume III (Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera& Diptera) V.K. Thapa IUCN-The World Conservation Union 2000 Published by: IUCN Nepal Copyright: 2000. IUCN Nepal The role of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in supporting the IUCN Nepal is gratefully acknowledged. The material in this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for education or non-profit uses, without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. IUCN Nepal would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication, which uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes without prior written permission of IUCN Nepal. Citation: Thapa, V.K., 2000. An Inventory of Nepal's Insects, Vol. III. IUCN Nepal, Kathmandu, xi + 475 pp. Data Processing and Design: Rabin Shrestha and Kanhaiya L. Shrestha Cover Art: From left to right: Shield bug ( Poecilocoris nepalensis), June beetle (Popilla nasuta) and Ichneumon wasp (Ichneumonidae) respectively. Source: Ms. Astrid Bjornsen, Insects of Nepal's Mid Hills poster, IUCN Nepal. ISBN: 92-9144-049 -3 Available from: IUCN Nepal P.O. Box 3923 Kathmandu, Nepal IUCN Nepal Biodiversity Publication Series aims to publish scientific information on biodiversity wealth of Nepal. Publication will appear as and when information are available and ready to publish. List of publications thus far: Series 1: An Inventory of Nepal's Insects, Vol. I. Series 2: The Rattans of Nepal. -
JBES-Vol9no2-P122-12
J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2016 Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 9, No. 2, p. 122-128, 2016 http://www.innspub.net RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS New faunal records of dung beetles from district Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan Ayesha Nasir2, Mubashar Hussain*1, Samman Fatima2, Nadia Noureen1, Mobeen Ghazanfar2 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan 2Research Scholar, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Article published on August 31, 2016 Key words: Dung beetles, Faunal records, Pakistan Abstract The study was carried out to explore the dung beetle fauna from district Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan with emphasizes on the abundance and richness of species, distribution and description from cropland and pastures. Dung beetles specimens were sampled randomly from various parts District Sialkot. The specimens were collected by hand picking within the dung pat and by digging under and near the dung pats in natural pastures and croplands during 2014 - 2015. Specimens were subjected to identification by using standard morphological keys. Total 595 specimens were recorded from the study site belonging to 2 families, 5 tribes, 9 genera, and 25 species out of which four species Tiniocellus (Tiniocellus) modestus (Roth, 1851), Aphodius (Calaphodius) Moestus (Fabricius), Aphodius (Calamosternus) granarius (Linnaeus, 1767) and Onthophagus troglodyta (Wiedemann, 1823) were amongst new records from pakistan. The study emphasized on further exploration of fauna of Scarabaeidae family in the district Sialkot with special reference to ecological parameters. *Corresponding Author: Mubashar Hussain [email protected] 122 | Nasir et al. J. Bio. & Env. -
Convergent Selection on Juvenile Hormone Signaling Is Associated with the Evolution of Eusociality in Bees
bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.14.439731; this version posted April 14, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Jones, Rubin, Dudchenko et al., 2021 – preprint version - bioRxiv Convergent selection on juvenile hormone signaling is associated with the evolution of eusociality in bees Beryl M. Jones1,2,*, Benjamin E.R. Rubin1,2,*, Olga Dudchenko3,4,*, Karen M. Kapheim5, Eli S. Wyman1,2, Brian G. St. Hilaire3, Weijie Liu1,2, Lance R. Parsons2, S. RaElle Jackson2, Katharine Goodwin2, Shawn M. Davidson2, Callum J. Kingwell6,7, Andrew E. Webb1,2, Mauricio Fernández Otárola8, Melanie Pham3, Arina D. Omer3, David Weisz3, Joshua Schraiber9,10, Fernando Villanea9,11, William T. Wcislo7, Robert J. Paxton12,13, Brendan G. Hunt14, Erez Lieberman Aiden3,4,15,16,ⱡ, Sarah D. Kocher1,2,ⱡ,§ *These authors contributed equally ⱡThese authors contributed equally §Corresponding Author: [email protected] 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, USA 2Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, USA 3The Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA 4Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, USA 5Department of Biology, Utah State University, USA 6Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, USA 7Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 0843-03092 Panama -
Reproductive Behaviour and Development of the Dung Beetle Typhaeus Typhoeus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae)
REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DUNG BEETLE TYPHAEUS TYPHOEUS (COLEOPTERA, GEOTRUPIDAE) by LIJBERTBRUSSAARD Dept. of Animal Ecology and Dept. of Soil Science & Geology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands . ABSTRACT This paper is part of a study of the contribution of dung beetles to soil formation in sandy soils. Typhaeus typhoeus (Linnaeus) has been selected because it makes deep burrows and is locally abundant. The beetles are active from autumn until spring, reproduction takes place from February to April. Sex pheromones probably influence pair formation. The sexes co operate in excavating a burrow (up to 0.7 m below surface) and in provisioning the burrow with dung as food for the larvae. Co-operation is reset by scraping each other across the thorax or elytra. Dung sausages, appr. 12.5 cm long and 15 mm in diameter, are manufac tured above each other. Development is rapid at 13—17°C. The life cycle is accelerated by a cold period in the third larval stage. These requirements are met by soil temperatures up to 15° C in summer and down to 5 °C in winter. The life cycle lasts two years, but longer under certain conditions. Newly hatched beetles make their way to the surface through the soil, but do not follow the old shaft. Adults reproduce only once. Differential rate of com pletion of the life cycle and occasional flying probably reduce the risk of local extinction. The study is thought to be relevant for behavioural ecology and soil science. CONTENTS tion of how much dung beetles contribute to Introduction 203 soil formation today. -
Dung Beetles As Secondary Seed Dispersers: Impact on Seed Predation and Germination
Journialof Tropical Ecology (1998) 14:199-215.With 2 figures Copyright? 1998 CambridgeUniversity Press Dung beetles as secondary seed dispersers: impact on seed predation and germination VIRGINIA E. SHEPHERD and COLIN A. CHAPMAN' Departmentof Zoology,223 BartramHall, Universityof Florida, Gainesville,Florida, 32611, USA. E-mail. [email protected] (Accepted5 October1997) ABSTRACT. Dispersal of seeds away fromthe parent plant may facilitateescape fromdensity-dependent seed mortality.However, many post-dispersalevents can have a profoundinfluence on the survival of dispersed seeds. By incorporating seeds in the dung that dung beetles process forconsumption and oviposition,dung beetles could enhance seed survivalif they remove seeds fromareas of high pre- dation risk and place them in locations that avoid subsequent predation and that are suitable forgermination. The role of dung beetles in seed survivalwas investig- ated over 15 mo in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Depths of seeds buried by beetles, levels of predation on buried and unburied seeds, and germinationsuccess of seeds buried to differentdepths were examined. Results suggest that by burying seeds dung beetles increase the probabilitythat seeds will escape predation and germinate. Of seeds placed in dungpiles,69% remained at the surface,while 25% were buried from 1-3 cm in depth. Larger seeds were buried more shallowlythan smaller seeds. Buried seeds were less likelyto be removedby predatorsthan seeds at the surface.Germination of seeds buried at 1- and 3-cm depths was significantly higherthan seeds buried at 10 cm. For the species tested, many seeds were buried by dung beetles between 1 and 3 cm and at this depth there was a high probability of escaping predatorsand germinating.This demonstratesthe potential ecological importanceof dung beetles in facilitatingseed survivaland provides data to con- sider the role of dung beetles in the evolutionof seed attributes.