Articles tagged with Beetles
A study of dung beetles in Borneo found that species with more intense male competition for mating are less likely to go extinct. Species with horns were more likely to persist in disturbed environments than those without, and larger horns were associated with greater population sizes.
Scientists discover new subfamily of bioluminescent click beetles in Asia, with unique characteristics and multiple origins of bioluminescence. The discovery sheds new light on the evolution and geographic distribution of these insects.
A recent study published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution reveals the alarming impact of bark beetles on timberlands across Central Europe and North America. The beetles' population growth is linked to climate change, which exacerbates the problem by weakening German timberlands.
Researchers discovered that dung beetles use a wind compass to navigate when the sun is high, complementing their sun compass. This flexible navigation system enables precise direction-finding at all times.
Researchers have discovered that dung beetles use a wind compass and sun compass to navigate, switching between the two depending on the condition. The insects' brains adapt dynamically to the environment, allowing them to make informed decisions.
Scientists have discovered that dung beetles utilize wind direction in addition to sun orientation to navigate. This combination enhances the beetle's compass, allowing for more precise navigation even in challenging conditions.
Research suggests that South African dung beetles utilize a multisensory compass, combining wind direction with solar elevation to maintain spatial orientation. The study found that the beetles' ability to orient themselves improves when incorporating wind cues into their navigation strategy.
New research finds that climate change could lead to more frequent and intense spruce beetle outbreaks in the Rocky Mountains. Warmer temperatures could extend the beetle's flight period and make coordinated attacks harder to predict.
Researchers found that male broad-horned flour beetles selectively bred for shorter loser effects still didn't improve their fighting prowess. The study suggests a disconnect between the duration of the loser effect and actual fighting ability, with animals using past experience to decide whether to engage in behavior.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg found that forest thinning can benefit threatened wood-living beetles, with an increase of over one-third in species numbers. The research, part of the Swedish Oak Project, compared two management alternatives and showed that conservation thinning had a positive effect on these insects.
Beetles infected with intestinal parasites exhibit reduced aggressive behavior during simulated attacks from predators and rival males. Larger beetles tend to fight back more than smaller ones, while parasitized beetles produce fewer squeaks as a defensive behavior.
Research found that nematode-infected horned passalus beetles process wood 15% faster than uninfected ones, leading to increased decomposition rates. The parasites are beneficial to the forest ecosystem, enabling the beetles to provide a more effective service
A fossilized beetle, Promyrmister kistneri, found to be the oldest-known example of an animal in a behaviorally symbiotic relationship with ants. The beetle's extreme adaptations allow it to infiltrate ant colonies, suggesting that freeloaders can persist over vast expanses of evolutionary time.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that a beetle's diet during sexual development affects its adult breeding habits. Females prefer to mate with well-fed males to optimize offspring health.
Researchers discovered that sex-determining genes control beetle horns and identified the timing of sex differences appearing at 36 hours after a reference point. The study found that transforming gene suppression during larval stages leads to male-like horn formation in females.
Researchers found that subterranean beetles breathe through their skin, absorbing oxygen from the surrounding water, which limits their size. This discovery sheds light on the unique adaptations of these tiny creatures living in underground aquifers.
Research finds that dung beetles and soil bacteria naturally suppress pathogens like E. coli, reducing foodborne illness risks on organic farms.
A new study reveals how the long-horned passalid beetle's gut microbiome breaks down woody biomass into energy-rich products like acetate and biofuels. The findings provide insights into a nature-derived approach to producing affordable fuels and bioproducts.
A team of German and Indonesian scientists has discovered 103 new species of Trigonopterus beetles in Sulawesi, Indonesia, with names inspired by Star Wars and Asterix characters. The study highlights the importance of international collaboration to uncover previously overlooked species in tropical regions.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers found that smaller beetles can boost their fitness by partnering with tiny mites, which provide a 'warm jacket' effect during exercise. This mutually beneficial relationship allows smaller beetles to win more fights over resources, while larger rivals experience reduced fitness.
Insect-killing nematodes produce distinctive chemical cues that both plants and insects respond to, enhancing plant defenses and deterring Colorado potato beetle eggs. This discovery offers growers additional benefits from using EPNs for biological control of insect pests.
Researchers found nematodes produce distinctive chemical cues that deter Colorado potato beetles and make potato leaves less palatable. This could provide a natural alternative to chemical pesticides.
Researchers at Penn State have identified a unique elastomeric protein called resilin in the pygidial glands of carabid beetles that protects them from their own toxic chemicals. This discovery has significant implications for the development of new barrier materials and tissue engineering applications.
A team led by Illinois professor Aimy Wissa studied the unique clicking mechanism of click beetles to inspire more agile robots. They discovered how the insect's hinge-like structure enables a quick release mechanism, which is being incorporated into robot prototypes.
New research finds elk in Wyoming's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest avoid beetle-killed areas during summer months. Elk strongly avoid these areas due to the need to expend significant amounts of energy to walk over downed logs and cool themselves.
Poppies' colorful petals contain high concentrations of pigment, which causes efficient scattering of light. The unique shape of the pigmented cells creates air-filled gaps that reflect light on the cell/air boundary, resulting in striking colors.
Researchers at Lund University found that dung beetles are sensitive enough to hold their course during full moon nights despite light pollution. They use polarized light as their most important compass reference.
A recent expedition to Borneo's Ulu Temburong forest discovered a new species of tiny beetle, Clavicornaltica belalongensis, through citizen science efforts. The beetle, measuring 1.25mm in length, feeds on moss and is one of hundreds of thousands of unknown beetle species.
Ground beetles of the genus Ozaena have been found to have morphological modifications that indicate they parasitize ant nests, unlike other species. These adaptations enable them to exploit ants as their sole source of food throughout their life cycle.
A new species of beetle, Iberoporus pluto, has been discovered in Portugal, exclusively inhabiting groundwater. The beetle was found in a cave system and features adaptations for life underground, such as depigmentation and elongated limbs.
Beetles have evolved a hard exoskeleton due to symbiotic bacteria producing tyrosine, essential for cuticle formation. This cooperation has contributed to the evolutionary success of beetles and their spread into new ecological niches.
Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered ways to gather water from nighttime fog and condensation using surfaces with conical shapes and grooved patterns. These designs can efficiently collect water droplets, similar to how cacti and desert grasses do in nature.
The small hive beetle's genome has been published, providing crucial keys for better control methods, including insecticidal treatments and genetic solutions. The SHB has a strong gene-guided system that detoxifies many insecticides, allowing researchers to target specific pathways for effective control.
Bombardier beetles prefer resting in groups of multiple species over solo sheltering, possibly due to shared defense chemistry recharging. The study found that groups contained up to eight bombardier species, often with distantly related ones.
A new species of insect, Propiestus archaicus, found in Burmese amber is a relative of modern flat rove beetles that lived under tree bark. The beetle's flattened body and short legs suggest it was adapted to life in the Late Cretaceous era, helping scientists understand how continents shifted millions of years ago.
Researchers found that burying beetles use their gut symbionts to transform decaying carcasses into nutritious nurseries for their young, promoting larval growth and development. The symbionts suppress the growth of microbial pathogens and toxic substances, allowing the larvae to thrive.
A study reveals that bacteria associated with a carrion-eating beetle help slow carcass decomposition and support the growth of beetle larvae. The beetles' microbial flora facilitate the preservation of carcasses by outcompeting microbes associated with decomposition.
A study on scarab beetles found that horns developed from the same head regions, with common genes controlling their formation. The research suggests deep parallels in horn evolution between distant species.
A study by Japanese researchers found that males who harass females during mating can cause a drop in reproductive ability and a decrease in population size. Females with long reproductive pockets are more resistant to male harassment, but populations tend to be smaller when males have longer genitalia.
A $1 million grant will support research into tree chemical defenses against bark beetles, exploring mechanisms of tree death and susceptibility. The study will investigate tree responses to drought conditions and manipulate water availability in pinyon pine forests.
Nematodes transmitted during copulation and from mothers to offspring alter brood ball communities, boosting plant-digesting bacteria. This discovery supports the notion that nematodes are mutualists rather than parasites.
Researchers found that larvae without parental support evolved larger jaws to compensate for lack of help. This adaptation enables them to fend for themselves in case they receive no care.
A study on Asian ladybird beetles reveals a single gene, pannier, that regulates diverse color patterns. The gene's expression affects black and red pigmentation in the forewing, driving morphological evolution.
A beetle that tricks bees into carrying it into their nests has adapted its deceptions to local hosts, according to research. The larvae of the beetle lure male digger bees with chemical signals mimicking female sex pheromones, allowing them to feed on bee eggs and provisions.
Chinese fossils contain at least 28 insect families and diverse beetles, suggesting a radiation of Holometabola during the Middle Triassic. The discovery provides new insights into the early evolution of freshwater ecosystems.
Researchers found that wolves prefer to hunt bulls who have already shed their antlers, suggesting that antlers serve as a deterrent against wolf predation. This discovery provides insight into the evolution of elk antler retention time and challenges previous assumptions about the role of antlers in elk behavior.
A University of Montana researcher found that trees surviving a recent outbreak of mountain pine beetles had a distinct genetic makeup, differing from the susceptible population. This discovery suggests that resistance to the beetles may be heritable and provides hope for managing forest adaptation.
Researchers have discovered the earliest definitive fossil evidence of insect-pollination in ancient cycads, dated to 99 million years ago. The discovery of an amber-trapped boganiid beetle shows special adaptations for transporting pollen, indicating a probable ancient origin of beetle pollination.
A new mid-Cretaceous boganiid beetle with specialized pollen feeding adaptations has been discovered, suggesting an ancient origin for beetle pollination of cycads. The fossil provides early definitive evidence for cycad-insect interactions, illuminating the history of complex entomophily in cycads.
A new species of round fungus beetle was discovered in Malaysian Borneo with remarkably long genitalia. The species was named after actress and biologist Isabella Rossellini due to its unique reproductive characteristics, showcasing an evolutionary 'sexual arms race' between males and females.
Researchers discovered that bacteria associated with beetles can produce an antifungal substance similar to one found in marine tunicates. The commonality is likely due to lateral gene transfer between unrelated microorganisms. This finding highlights the potential of defensive symbionts for innovation and human use.
The KAIST research group created photonic capsules that can be injected into any target volume, exhibiting omnidirectional laser emissions. The capsules contain cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with helical nanostructures, which reflect circularly-polarized light and enable wavelength-tunable lasing.
A new study confirms that increasing winter temperatures allow beetles to expand their range, but also reveals that overcrowding can limit population growth. Resource competition is a stronger factor than cold temperatures in beetle mortality.
Scientists have discovered a 99-million-year-old featherwing beetle preserved in amber, named 'Jason'. The beetle has been found to have unique features not seen in modern featherwings, but also shares many similarities with its living relatives.
A team of researchers studied the narrow-footed Hygrotus diving beetle native only to central Wyoming, discovering its unique habitat in small streams with high salt concentrations. The study found that maintaining hydrologic integrity of prairie streams is vital for the conservation of this rare species.
Research from Dartmouth College shows that cooler weather can increase the lethality of southern pine beetles' attacks on trees. The study demonstrates how climate change creates a destructive one-two punch for forests, with warmer temperatures leading to synchronized emergence of adult beetles and increased population density.
Researchers found that bumblebees have difficulty discriminating between flower shapes when they are iridescent. This is because the changing colors create a visual signal that confuses potential predators and makes it hard for them to identify edible prey.
Researchers found that incorporating flowering areas and agri-environmental schemes in agricultural landscapes increases predator species and individuals, leading to effective natural pest control. The distance between the flowering plot and the oilseed rape field is crucial for this effect.
In a study on red flour beetles, researchers found that males were more likely to mate with other males when there was less pressure to find a female mate. In contrast, in populations with high female bias, male beetles lost their ability to discriminate between male and female mates.
A newly discovered water beetle was given the name Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi in honor of Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental work. The beetle was found by citizen scientists during a Taxon Expedition in Malaysian Borneo, with the expedition marking the 20th anniversary of DiCaprio's foundation.