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Life
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Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects
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Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Diversity and Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 14067

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Federica Talarico

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Guest Editor
Natural Hystory Museum and Botanical garden, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: morphometry; compound eyes; carabids; morphology
Dr. Anita Giglio

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: insects; ecotoxicology; morphology; bioindicators; immunology; ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The widespread distribution of insects over many aquatic and terrestrial environments is the evidence of their evolutionary success. Insects have evolved complex and effective behavioural, morphological and physiological adaptations to face a multitude of selective pressures. Their diversity is readily recognizable through morphological features, and their abundance and ability to occupy a wide range of ecological niches can be attributed to adaptations of both external structures and internal physiology.

Biotic and abiotic factors influence diverse morphological features and biological characteristics related to the life history traits of species such as reproduction, sexual selection, growth and development, body size, feeding habits, life cycle regulation, prey-predator relationship,  homeostasis and pathogen resistance.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect research and review papers covering the physiological, morphological and behavioural aspects of Insects.

Dr. Federica Talarico
Dr. Anita Giglio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • morphometry
  • microscopy
  • physiology
  • sexual dimorphisms
  • ultrastructure
  • behaviour
  • ecology
  • ecological immunology
  • feeding guild

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 47329 KiB  
Article
The foraging Gene Is Involved in the Presence of Wings and Explorative Behaviours in Parthenogenetic Females of the Aphid Myzus persicae
by Mauro Mandrioli and Gian Carlo Manicardi
Life 2022, 12(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12030369 - 3 Mar 2022
Viewed by 2446
Abstract
The foraging gene (for) encodes for a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase involved in behavioural plasticity in aphids and in other insects. In this paper, we analysed the complete for sequence in eight clones of the peach potato aphid Myzus [...] Read more.
The foraging gene (for) encodes for a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase involved in behavioural plasticity in aphids and in other insects. In this paper, we analysed the complete for sequence in eight clones of the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae, reporting the presence of nonsense and frameshift mutations in three studied clones characterized by a reduced number of winged females and by the absence of exploratory behaviours. Quantitative PCR experiments evidenced similar results in clones possessing for genes with a conserved coding sequence, but low expression levels. The comparison of the for transcriptional level in Myzus persicae persicae and Myzus persicae nicotianae showed very different expression in the two studied M. p. nicotianae clones so that our data did not support a previous hypothesis suggesting that a differential for expression was related to ecological specialization of M. p. nicotianae. In view of its role in both the dispersal of winged females and exploratory behaviours, the screening of the for sequences could be useful for predicting invasions of cultivated areas by peach potato aphids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects)
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13 pages, 2829 KiB  
Article
Modeling Sexual Differences of Body Size Variation in Ground Beetles in Geographical Gradients: A Case Study of Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger, 1798) (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
by Sergey Luzyanin, Anatoly Saveliev, Nadezhda Ukhova, Iraida Vorobyova, Igor Solodovnikov, Anatoliy Anciferov, Rifgat Shagidullin, Teodora Teofilova, Sargylana Nogovitsyna, Viktor Brygadyrenko, Viktor Alexanov and Raisa Sukhodolskaya
Life 2022, 12(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12010112 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2851
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the steepness of body size variation in males and females in the widespread ground beetle Pterostichus melanarius in geographical gradients. Beetles were sampled in 15 regions of Europe and Asia, and sampling territories differed 17° [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to test the steepness of body size variation in males and females in the widespread ground beetle Pterostichus melanarius in geographical gradients. Beetles were sampled in 15 regions of Europe and Asia, and sampling territories differed 17° in latitude and 121° in longitude. We measured six linear traits in every captured beetle and formed a data set that included 2154 individuals. Body size variation in all traits in general was sawtooth, both in latitude and in longitude gradients. Regression analysis showed slight trends: in the latitude gradient, elytra parameters increased, pronotum length did not change but the width increased, and head parameters decreased. In the longitude gradient, the changes were as follows: elytra length increased, but its width did not change; pronotum length did not change, but its width increased; the head parameters decreased. Thus, we observed the elytra length increase and the head parameters decrease northwards and eastwards. We compared female and male regression curves (trait size on latitude/longitude): p-levels were significant only in four cases out of 12. Thus, we conclude that, in general, there is no evidence for the steepness in trait variation in males compared with females. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects)
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13 pages, 1246 KiB  
Article
Dung Beetle Assemblages Attracted to Cow and Horse Dung: The Importance of Mouthpart Traits, Body Size, and Nesting Behavior in the Community Assembly Process
by Mattia Tonelli, Victoria C. Giménez Gómez, José R. Verdú, Fernando Casanoves and Mario Zunino
Life 2021, 11(9), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11090873 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3176
Abstract
Dung beetles use excrement for feeding and reproductive purposes. Although they use a range of dung types, there have been several reports of dung beetles showing a preference for certain feces. However, exactly what determines dung preference in dung beetles remains controversial. In [...] Read more.
Dung beetles use excrement for feeding and reproductive purposes. Although they use a range of dung types, there have been several reports of dung beetles showing a preference for certain feces. However, exactly what determines dung preference in dung beetles remains controversial. In the present study, we investigated differences in dung beetle communities attracted to horse or cow dung from a functional diversity standpoint. Specifically, by examining 18 functional traits, we sought to understand if the dung beetle assembly process is mediated by particular traits in different dung types. Species specific dung preferences were recorded for eight species, two of which prefer horse dung and six of which prefer cow dung. Significant differences were found between the functional traits of the mouthparts of the dung beetles attracted to horse dung and those that were attracted to cow dung. Specifically, zygum development and the percentage of the molar area and the conjunctive area differed between horse and cow dung colonizing beetles. We propose that the quantitative differences in the mouthpart traits of the species attracted to horse and cow dung respectively could be related to the differential capacity of the beetles to filtrate and concentrate small particles from the dung. Hence, the dung preference of dung beetles could be related to their ability to exploit a specific dung type, which varies according to their mouthpart traits. Moreover, we found that larger and nester beetles preferred cow dung, whereas smaller and non-nester beetles preferred horse dung. This finding could be related to the tradeoff between fitness and parental investments, and to the suitability of the trophic resource according to the season and species phenology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects)
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Review

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22 pages, 808 KiB  
Review
Pygidial Glands in Carabidae, an Overview of Morphology and Chemical Secretion
by Anita Giglio, Maria Luigia Vommaro, Pietro Brandmayr and Federica Talarico
Life 2021, 11(6), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060562 - 15 Jun 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3691
Abstract
Predator community structure is an important selective element shaping the evolution of prey defence traits and strategies. Carabid beetles are one of the most diverse families of Coleoptera, and their success in terrestrial ecosystems is related to considerable morphological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations [...] Read more.
Predator community structure is an important selective element shaping the evolution of prey defence traits and strategies. Carabid beetles are one of the most diverse families of Coleoptera, and their success in terrestrial ecosystems is related to considerable morphological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations that provide protection against predators. Their most common form of defence is the chemical secretion from paired abdominal pygidial glands that produce a heterogeneous set of carboxylic acids, quinones, hydrocarbons, phenols, aldehydes, and esters. This review attempts to update and summarise what is known about the pygidial glands, with particular reference to the morphology of the glands and the biological function of the secretions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional and Morphological Adaptations in Insects)
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