Plant phylogeny as a major predictor of flower visitation by nitidulid beetles, a lineage of ancestral angiosperm pollinators

Plant phylogeny sometimes predicts interspecific variation in pollinator composition better than floral features, and its predictive value seems to differ among major groups of insect pollinators. Earlier findings suggesting that pollination by Plant phylogeny sometimes predicts interspecific variation in pollinator composition better than gross floral features, and its predictive value seems to differ among major groups of insect pollinators. Pollination by beetles exhibits the strongest phylogenetic signal and the strongest phylogenetic conservatism, which is particularly intriguing given that beetles were probably the pollinators of early angiosperms. We examine in this paper the relationship between plant phylogeny and flower visitation by nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), an old monophyletic group of flower specialists and pollinators of gymnosperms and angiosperms. Using quantitative data on pollinator composition for 251 plant species (belonging to 167 genera in 46 families) from well-preserved Mediterranean montane habitats from southeastern Spain, the following questions were addressed: Is pollination by nitidulids correlated with plant phylogeny in the large species sample studied, and if it does, which are the relative importances of plant phylogeny, floral characteristics, and environmental features as predictors of nitidulid pollination in the plant assemblage studied ? Nitidulids were recorded in flowers of 25% of the plant species considered. Their distribution was significantly related to plant phylogeny, being clustered on certain lineages (Ranunculales, Malvales, Rosales, Asterales) and remarkably absent from others (e.g., Fabales, Lamiales). None of the environmental (habitat type, elevation) or macroscopic floral features considered (perianth type and color, flower mass) predicted nitidulid visitation after statistically accounting for the effect of plant phylogeny. We theorize that nitidulid beetles use characters of plants that track plant phylogeny at least as deep as the early radiation of the eudicots, imaginably characters such as the chemical signatures of pollen.

Nematode isolation from nitidulid beetles with proposal of Sheraphelenchus heterophallus n. comb.

Summary The nematode associations of two nitidulid beetles, Epuraea ocularis and Lasiodactylus pictus, and their habitat (substrate) were examined in an experimental stand in Kyoto, Japan. Beetles were collected in October 2020 using banana traps. Molecular and morphological identification recognised two nematode species: Sheraphelenchus sucus and Chylorhabditis epuraeae. Sheraphelenchus sucus was isolated exclusively from E. ocularis, while C. epuraeae was isolated from both beetle species. Dauer juveniles (DJ) of S. sucus were isolated from the substrate, rotten banana. The typological characters of S. sucus DJ are illustrated and photo-documented, and S. heterophallus n. comb. (= Aphelenchoides heterophallus Steiner, 1934 and Parasitaphelenchus heterophallus (Steiner, 1934) Rühm, 1956), recognised during a literature survey, is proposed.

Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in Oak Forests of Two Northeastern States: A Comparison of Trapping Methods and Monitoring for Phoretic Fungi

Oak wilt is slowly expanding in the northeastern United States. Several nitidulid beetle species are known vectors of the fungus [Bretziella fagacearum (Bretz) Z. W. De Beer, Marinc., T. A. Duong, and M. J. Wingf (Microascales: Ceratocystidaceae)] that causes this disease, acquiring spores from fungal mats on infected trees and transmitting them to uninfected trees. Survey and fungal isolation from captured nitidulid beetles could be an important tool for detecting the presence of this disease in a geographic area not previously known to have oak wilt. In preparation for monitoring activities in such areas, two trapping studies were conducted in the northeastern United States: 1) trap test comparing the efficacy of wind-oriented pipe, multiple-funnel, and modified pitfall traps for nitidulids and 2) wet and dry collection cup comparison. Lures were a combination of nitidulid pheromones and fermenting liquid. Results support the use of multiple-funnel traps over the other two trap types, for both targeted species-specific surveys and community sampling. More total nitidulids, Colopterus truncatus (Randall), and Glischrochilus fasciatus (Olivier) were captured in wet collection cups compared with dry cups. Twenty-seven fungal species were isolated, none of which were B. fagacearum. Many fungi isolated from beetles were plant pathogens, indicating that in addition to the oak wilt fungus, sap beetles may contribute to the spread of other plant diseases.

Additional nest structures and natural enemies of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae)

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) are widely distributed in tropics and subtropics areas. Now these bees are farmed by the human because they produce honey and propolis. Natural enemies can disturb the colony that affects to nest structure and productivity of these bees. This study aimed to study the common nest structure and additional nest structure of stingless bees which caused by natural enemies. This research was conducted from August to November 2015. Samples were taken from three locations, i.e, Pasuruan (East Java), Tasikmalaya (West Java), and Rangkasbitung (Banten). Descriptive analysis was used to compare the structure and composition of the nest in bamboo and additional nest structures in relation with natural enemies. Generally, the structure and composition of the nest of stingless bees in bamboo consist of nest entrance, storage pots (honey and pollen), and brood cells. We didn’t found natural enemies of stingless bees in Pasuruan and Tasikmalaya and these colonies did not create additional nest structures. In contrast, the colonies in Rangkasbitung created additional nest structures i.e. the inner entrance covered by batumen and cerumen and also build a root-like structure. Natural enemies found in the colony at Rangkasbitung were cockroaches (Blattodea: Blattidae), histerid beetles, Platysoma leconti (Coleoptera: Histeridae), nitidulid beetles, Carphophilus sp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), and ants, Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Monstera guzmanjacobiae (Araceae), a new species from Mexico with notes on its reproductive biology

The genus Monstera is represented in Mexico by nine species, of which five are reported for the region of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. During fieldwork between 2014 and 2019 in Los Tuxtlas, we discovered a previously undescribed species belonging to Sect. Marcgraviopsis and consisting of a third species from Mexico with a pendent habit. The new species Monstera guzmanjacobiae, is described taxonomically and illustrated, using color photographs of vegetative and reproductive features in living material. The behavior of flowering coincides with that observed in other species of Monstera. Both nitidulid beetles and drosophilid flies found inside the chamber may be the pollinators of M. guzmanjacobiae.

The First Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Two Sibling Species from Nitidulid Beetles Pests

Carpophilus dimidiatus (Fabricius, 1792) and Carpophilus pilosellus Motschulsky are two sibling species and economically important storage pests worldwide. The first complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of both were sequenced using next-generation sequencing. The mt genomes of C. dimidiatus and C. pilosellus are circular, with total lengths of 15,717 bp and 15,686 bp, respectively. Gene order and content for both species are similar to what has been observed in ancestral insects and consist of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region. Comparing the mt genome data of C. dimidiatus and C. pilosellus, they are similar in organization, arrangement patterns, GC contents, transfer RNA (tRNA) secondary structures, and codon usage patterns. Small differences were noted with regards to the nucleotide similarity of coding regions and the control region. This is the first publication of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two sibling species. The mt genome sequences can supplement the nuclear markers of the Carpophilus genus in research species identification, system evolution, and population genetic structure, and also will be valuable molecular marker for further genetic studies.

Evolutionary steps in the reproductive biology of Annonaceae

Flowers of Annonaceae are characterized by fleshy petals, many stamens with hard connective shields and numerous carpels with sessile stigmas often covered by sticky secretions. The petals of many representatives during anthesis form a closed pollination chamber. Protogynous dichogamy with strong scent emissions especially during the pistillate stage is a character of nearly all species. Scent emissions can be enhanced by thermogenesis. The prevailing reproductive system in the family seems to be self-compatibility. The basal genus Anaxagorea besides exhibiting several ancestral morphological characters has also many characters which reappear in other genera. Strong fruit-like scents consisting of fruit-esters and alcohols mainly attract small fruit-beetles (genus Colopterus, Nitidulidae) as pollinators, as well as several other beetles (Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae) and fruit-flies (Drosophilidae), which themselves gnaw on the thick petals or their larvae are petal or ovule predators. The flowers and the thick petals are thus a floral brood substrate for the visitors and the thick petals of Anaxagorea have to be interpreted as an antipredator structure. Another function of the closed thick petals is the production of heat by accumulated starch, which enhances scent emission and provides a warm shelter for the attracted beetles. Insight into floral characters and floral ecology of Anaxagorea, the sister group of the rest of the Annonaceae, is particularly important for understanding functional evolution and diversification of the family as a whole. As beetle pollination (cantharophily) is plesiomorphic in Anaxagorea and in Annonaceae, characters associated with beetle pollination appear imprinted in members of the whole family. Pollination by beetles (cantharophily) is the predominant mode of the majority of species worldwide. Examples are given of diurnal representatives (e.g., Guatteria, Duguetia, Annona) which function on the basis of fruit-imitating flowers attracting mainly fruit-inhabiting nitidulid beetles, as well as nocturnal species (e.g., large-flowered Annona and Duguetia species), which additionally to most of the diurnal species exhibit strong flower warming and provide very thick petal tissues for the voracious dynastid scarab beetles (Dynastinae, Scarabaeidae). Further examples will show that a few Annonaceae have adapted in their pollination also to thrips, flies, cockroaches and even bees. Although this non-beetle pollinated species have adapted in flower structure and scent compounds to their respective insects, they still retain some of the specialized cantharophilous characters of their ancestors.

Saccharomycopsis fodiens sp. nov., a rare predacious yeast from three distant localities

Three strains representing a novel yeast species were recovered as part of independent collections from flower-associated nitidulid beetles in Australia, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene indicated that the species belongs to the genus Saccharomycopsis, although the formation of ascospores was not observed. The yeast is capable of necrotrophic parasitism by means of infection pegs when mixed with other yeasts or filamentous fungi. Of particular interest is the fact that despite the large distances separating the isolation sites of the three strains, other strains of the species have not been recovered in other samples of flower-associated nitidulids even though these habitats have been sampled extensively. It is suggested that the dispersal of the yeast may be linked to human historical factors. The name Saccharomycopsis fodiens sp. nov. is proposed for the yeast. The type strain is UWOPS 95-697.4T ( = CBS 8332T = NRRL Y-48786T).