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Species of the click-beetle genus Agriotes Eschscholtz are economically important crop pests distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. They can inflict considerable damage on various field crops. Therefore, the detection, monitoring, and control of Agriotes include the adult trapping using species-specific sex pheromones, which is a critical component of pest research. To obtain a better understanding of the detailed antennal morphology as background information for subsequent chemical ecology research, we conducted a scanning electron microscopy study of the antennal sensilla of both sexes in 10 European Agriotes species. We identified 16 different sensilla in Agriotes, belonging to six main types: sensilla chaetica (subtypes C1 and C2), sensilla trichodea, sensilla basiconica (subtypes B1–B9), dome-shaped sensilla (subtypes D1 and D2), sensilla campaniformia, and Böhm sensilla. We discuss their possible functions and compare the sensilla of Agriotes with those of other Elateridae in order to consolidate the sensillum nomenclature in this family. Additionally, our study reveals the remarkable interspecific variability in sensillar equipment of Agriotes and identifies several characters of potential importance for future use in systematic studies. The present study provides a strong preliminary framework for subsequent research on the antennal morphology of this crop pest on a wider scale.

Beetles of Eastern North Americais a landmark book--the most comprehensive full-color guide to the remarkably diverse and beautiful beetles of the United States and Canada east of the Mississippi River. It is the first color-illustrated guide to cover 1,406 species in all 115 families that occur in the region--and the first new in-depth guide to the region in more than forty years. Lavishly illustrated with over 1,500 stunning color images by some of the best insect photographers in North America, the book features an engaging and authoritative text by noted beetle expert Arthur Evans. Extensive introductory sections provide essential information on beetle anatomy, reproduction, development, natural history, behavior, and conservation. Also included are tips on where and when to find beetles; how to photograph, collect, and rear beetles; and how to contribute to research. Each family and species account presents concise and easy-to-understand information on identification, natural history, collecting, and geographic range. Organized by family, the book also includes an illustrated key to the most common beetle families, with 31 drawings that aid identification, and features current information on distribution, biology, and taxonomy not found in other guides. An unmatched guide to the rich variety of eastern North American beetles, this is an essential book for amateur naturalists, nature photographers, insect enthusiasts, students, and professional entomologists and other biologists. Provides the only comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible full-color treatment of the region's beetlesCovers 1,406 species in all 115 families east of the Mississippi RiverFeatures more than 1,500 stunning color images from top photographersPresents concise information on identification, natural history, collecting, and geographic range for each species and familyIncludes an illustrated key to the most common beetle families

1. Inverted click-beetles (Elateridae) jump to right themselves, providing enough energy to launch the body many body lengths into the air. 2. We tested whether the apparently redundant jump energy could be an adaptation for jumping from compliant surfaces that absorb energy, in the natural habitat. Jump height was measured in beetles jumping from natural substrates and from an apparatus we designed, allowing them to adjust the level of jump energy attenuated by the substrate. 3. Jump height was dramatically reduced (by c. 75%) when jumping from leaves that covered approximately half of the study site. In the remaining area, jumping for righting was either not required or not substantially attenuated. Therefore, the available power for jumping results in low jumps that are barely sufficient for righting when jumping from compliant surfaces covering c. 50% of the natural habitat. 4. The decrease in jump height was correlated with the amount of work absorbed by the substrate. We therefore conclude that the beetles do not adjust the muscle work invested in jumping to adjust for changes in substrate stiffness. 5. Scaling considerations of the jumping mechanics suggest that substrate compliance becomes a bigger problem for larger beetles. 6. The effect of substrate compliance needs to be taken into account while addressing the functional ecology of jumping animals.

Denticollis borealis (Paykull, 1800) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is recorded for the first time in Kazakhstan. Species was found in bracket fungus and under bark, in galleries of larvae of Upis ceramboides (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sinodendron cylindricum (Linnaeus, 1758). It is possible that the larvae of D. borealis are predators of the species of beetles in whose galleries it was found. A key to the known species of the genus Denticollis from Kazakhstan is also given.

Many small animals use springs and latches to overcome the mechanical power output limitations of their muscles. Click beetles use springs and latches to bend their bodies at the thoracic hinge and then unbend extremely quickly, resulting in a clicking motion. When unconstrained, this quick clicking motion results in a jump. While the jumping motion has been studied in depth, the physical mechanisms enabling fast unbending have not. Here, we first identify and quantify the phases of the clicking motion: latching, loading, and energy release. We detail the motion kinematics and investigate the governing dynamics (forces) of the energy release. We use high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging to observe and analyze the motion of the hinge’s internal structures of four Elater abruptus specimens. We show evidence that soft cuticle in the hinge contributes to the spring mechanism through rapid recoil. Using spectral analysis and nonlinear system identification, we determine the equation of motion and model the beetle as a nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom oscillator. Quadratic damping and snap-through buckling are identified to be the dominant damping and elastic forces, respectively, driving the angular position during the energy release phase. The methods used in this study provide experimental and analytical guidelines for the analysis of extreme motion, starting from motion observation to identifying the forces causing the movement. The tools demonstrated here can be applied to other organisms to enhance our understanding of the energy storage and release strategies small animals use to achieve extreme accelerations repeatedly.

In central Canada, surveys for the three invasive (Palearctic) Agriotes species—A. obscurus, A. lineatus, and A. sputator—commonly collect A. pubescens, a North American native (Nearctic) click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) that generally co-occurs with Nearctic A. mancus. Despite the abundance of A. pubescens on farmland, its life history and potential economic impact remain largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and field testing of the A. pubescens sex pheromone. We collected headspace volatiles from a single female beetle on Porapak Q, then extracted the female's pheromone gland, and analyzed aliquots of both Porapak extract and pheromone gland extract by gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD) and by GC–mass spectrometry. In GC–EAD recordings of gland extract, two esters—geranyl butanoate and geranyl octanoate—elicited antennal responses from A. pubescens males. In a field experiment in Quebec, traps baited with a 1:1 blend of these esters captured approximately 100× more A. pubescens males than traps baited with a single ester.This is the same trap lure used for capturing A. lineatus. In this experiment, and in a similar one run in British Columbia, heterospecific pheromone components added to conspecific pheromone lures reduced captures of A. mancus, A. sputator, A. lineatus, and A. obscurus by 29%, 96%, 44%, and 71%, respectively. These data indicate that, in North America, lures containing pheromone components of multiple Agriotes congeners may not be optimally attractive to all target species.

We evaluated the relative efficacy of six pheromone-baited traps used in trapping Agriotes obscurus (L.) click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae): original Yatlor Traps, Yatlor Funnel Traps, Vernon Beetle Traps, Unitraps, Baited Pitfall Traps, and Vernon Pitfall Traps. Traps were rated according to quantitative and qualitative criteria of importance for each of four trap uses: general surveys, scientific studies, IPM monitoring, and mass trapping. Measurable quantitative categories included: total catch of A. obscurus; time for assembly, installation, and inspection; exclusion of nontarget invertebrates; and cost. Qualitative criteria were small mammal exclusion, flooding, design and handling variability, and convenience for various field uses. The most desirable characteristics were determined for the above four uses, and the cumulative ranking based on quantitative criteria and all four uses was Vernon Pitfall Trap, Baited Pitfall Trap, Original Yatlor Trap, Vernon Beetle Trap, Yatlor Funnel Trap, and Unitrap.

Corn wireworm, Melanotus communis Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is an economically important larval pest of root and tuber crops in the United States. Previous work to estimate field-level abundance of M. communis has focused on grain-based larval baits placed in soil. However, this sampling method is labor intensive and may not estimate population size accurately. Recent discovery of the M. communis sex pheromone, 13-tetradecenyl acetate, provides a new method to monitor this pest during the adult stage. Early studies with this pheromone showed that different trapping methods might enhance catch and improve trap servicing. We hypothesized that placing lures on elevated traps would increase M. communis capture relative to the in-ground pitfall trapping that is currently used. We had 2 objectives for this study: (a) to compare pheromone captures among in-ground pitfall traps, on-ground pitfalls, elevated pitfalls (1 m), or elevated sticky cards (1 m) and (b) test lure longevity by aging the lures outdoors at 8-, 6-, 4-, 2-, and 0-wk intervals prior to trap deployment in the field. Experiments were conducted in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida during the 2021 and 2022 field seasons. Results highlight large variation in M. communis abundance across the 4 states. We showed that 1 m elevated pheromone traps caught the most beetles. The age of the lure prior to deployment had a significant effect on trap catch. The lures that were aged for fewer weeks attracted significantly more beetles, with 0- and 2-wk-old lures capturing the greatest numbers. Graphical Abstract

Synthetic sex pheromone lures are useful tools to monitor and control populations of adult click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae). However, sex pheromones for Agriotes click beetle species native to North America have yet to be identified. Here we report the identification and field testing of the sex pheromone of Agriotes ferrugineipennis. Headspace volatiles from female beetles were collected on Porapak Q, and aliquots of Porapak extract were analyzed by gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectrometry. 7-Methyloctyl 7-methyloctanoate (7Me7Me) emitted by females was more abundant and elicited much stronger responses from male antennae than the aldehydes octanal and nonanal and the ketone 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone. In a field experiment, captures of A. ferrugineipennis males in traps baited with candidate pheromone components exceeded those of unbaited control traps, on average by nearly 1,200 times. Neither the ketone nor the aldehydes as lure constituents appeared to alter captures of males in 7Me7Me-baited traps. We conclude that 7Me7Me is the major, and possibly the only, sex attractant pheromone component of female A. ferrugineipennis.

Wireworms, the larval stage of elaterid beetles, are among the most serious soil-borne insect pests in the world. Wireworms feed on a variety of key crops, including small grains, maize, vegetables, fruits, sugar cane, sugar beets, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Management of these pests is becoming increasingly problematic, in part due to knowledge gaps in their basic biology, which hinders development of effective crop protection strategies. In particular, little is known about the semiochemicals that mediate the reproductive behavior of these pests. Research over the past two decades has begun to fill this need, with: (1) the discovery of sex attractants for several key pest species, and (2) subsequent studies toward development of semiochemically-based pest management approaches. We used chemical and behavioral studies to identify, synthesize, and field test the sex attractant pheromone of adult Melanotus verberans , the larvae of which are important crop pests. In coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of extracts of ovipositors of females, five possible pheromone components were identified. Subsequent coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection analyses indicated that male antennae were responsive to only two of these compounds, 13-tetradecenyl acetate and 13-tetradecenyl hexanoate. In field trials, neither compound alone was attractive, but a blend of the two was strongly attractive to conspecific male beetles, and did not attract other species. A two-year field study showed that most male beetle flight activity occurred from April through May. Because the sex pheromone of M. verberans consists of two compounds that can be readily synthesized, its development for integrated pest management should be economically feasible.