Associations between root diseases and bark beetles (Scolytidae) constitute some of the most serious pest complexes affecting forests in North America and elsewhere. The interactive functioning of these pests derives from the following relationships: 1) root diseases predispose trees to bark beetle infestation by lowering resistance, and perhaps increasing attractiveness, of trees to the attack...

We present several important advances on the flight-control microsystem for a cyborg beetle presented recently [1]. Giant beetles (Mecynorhina torquata) were employed to achieve larger payloads than the previously used Cotinis texana beetles. A new turning control method based on direct neural stimulation of the optic lobes (compound eyes) was achieved as well as initiation, cessation and eleva...

the present study was conducted to assess the effect of dung beetles on sheep dung removal and seed dispersal in semi steppe rangelands of shahrekord province with poor condition located in iran. therefore, the large (1 cm2) and small size (1 mm2) meshes were used and filled by sheep dung in six treatments. to evaluate the role of the insects in seeds translocation, three sizes of plastic beads...

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) play a major role in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and the biological control of pests and parasites that breed in manure. Habitat fragmentation, pesticide usage, and conventional agricultural practices are threats to dung beetle diversity, and their conservation is of growing concern. Comparison of organic and conventional ranching practices is of gre...

Cossyphodini Wasmann, 1899 (Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) from South Africa, Namibia and adjacent regions are revised, and newly collected material is presented. All species are figured, including as much as possible type specimens of African taxa for comparison. New species are described: Cossyphodes andreaei sp. n. and Cossyphodes caecus sp. n. (both South Africa), Cossyphodes naukluftensis sp. ...

The pupal stage of eleven Opatrini species occuring in the northern China are described and a key for their identifiaction is provided. The species are Scleropatrum horridum horridum Reitter, Gonocephalum reticulatum Motschulsky, Opatrum (Opatrum) subaratum Faldermann, Eumylada potanini (Reitter), Eumylada punctifera (Reitter), Penthicus (Myladion) alashanicus (Reichardt), Penthicus (Myladion) ...

A new genus, Pumiliofossorum Silvestro & Giraldo gen. nov. (Tenebrioninae: Scotobiini) and two new Peruvian species, Pumiliofossorum moche Silvestro & Flores sp. nov. and P. sechurae Giraldo & Flores sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Distributional data, habitat records, photographs, and SEM images are included. A revised key for the six genera of Scotobiini is provided. Morphology of the...

cantharidin is one of the most well- known compounds which has ever been fascinating in medicine due to its effects on human and domestic animals. it is produced naturally by beetles of family meloidae and oedemeridae, however a considerable spectra of other insects sequestered it too. cantharidin along with the other analogue, palasonin, which has a methyl group less than it, found in the hemo...

Long distance dispersal to locate suitable breeding sites is recognized as a key trait influencing the population dynamics and distribution of bark beetles and other saprophytic insects. While dispersal behavior has been studied for a range of aggressive 'tree killing' bark beetles, few have considered the dispersal behaviour of non-aggressive saprophytic bark beetles that utilize kairomones (h...

Beetles in the weevil subfamilies Scolytinae and Platypodinae are unusual in that they burrow as adults inside trees for feeding and oviposition. Some of these beetles are known as ambrosia beetles for their obligate mutualisms with asexual fungi--known as ambrosia fungi--that are derived from plant pathogens in the ascomycete group known as the ophiostomatoid fungi. Other beetles in these subf...