Second record of bioluminescence in larvae of Xantholinus Dejean (Staphylinidae, Xantholinini) from Brazil

Rosa, Simone Policena

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262010000100022

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Within Coleoptera, bioluminescence is best known in Lampyridae (fireflies), but also present in Phengodidae, Rhagophthalmidae, and some Elateridae, all within the superfamily Elateroidea (e.g., Oba 2009). Additionally, it was reported also for the larvae of two species belonging to Staphylinidae (Costa et al 1986, Rosa 2010), which are not closely related to Elateroidea (e.g., Zhang et al 2018). Within the Elateroidea, bioluminescence independently evolved several times (Bocakova et al 2007, Sagegami-Oba et al 2007, Amaral et al 2014, Fallon et al 2018) but despite the recent progress in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships within this superfamily (Kundrata et al 2014), the relationships between the luminescent lineages remain unresolved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae

Bi¹,

He²,

Chen³

et al. 2019

1,092

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The new subfamily Sinopyrophorinae within Elateridae is proposed to accommodate a bioluminescent species, Sinopyrophorusschimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov., recently discovered in Yunnan, China. This lineage is morphologically distinguished from other click-beetle subfamilies by the strongly protruding frontoclypeal region, which is longitudinally carinate medially, the pretarsal claws without basal setae, the hind wing venation with a well-defined wedge cell, the abdomen with seven (male) or six (female) ventrites, the large luminous organ on the abdominal sternite II, and the male genitalia with median lobe much shorter than parameres, and parameres arcuate, with the inner margin near its apical third dentate. Molecular phylogeny based on the combined 14 mitochondrial and two nuclear genes supports the placement of this taxon far from other luminescent click-beetle groups, which provides additional evidence for the multiple origin of bioluminescence in Elateridae. Illustrations of habitus and main diagnostic features of S.schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov. are provided, as well as the brief description of its luminescent behavior.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae

Bi¹,

He²,

Chen³

et al. 2019

1,092

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“…The larvae are carnivorous and their luminescence attracts termites and other insects. In one publication, another species of the same genus P. fragilis was found in termite-infested wood, which appeared like little points of blue light [ 62 ]. However, another explanation would be that it concerns luminescent fungal mycelium growing on the light- emitting wood [ 63 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural significance of termites in sub-Saharan Africa

Huis

2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundThe number of termite species in the world is more than 2500, and Africa with more than 1000 species has the richest intercontinental diversity. The family Termitidae contains builders of great mounds up to 5 m high. Colonies are composed of casts: a queen, a king, soldiers and workers. Some species of termite cultivate specialised fungi to digest cellulose. Termites constitute 10% of all animal biomass in the tropics. The purpose of the study was to make an overview of how termites are utilized, perceived and experienced in daily life across sub-Saharan Africa.MethodEthno-entomological information on termites (Isoptera) in sub-Saharan Africa was collected by: (1) interviews with more than 300 people from about 120 ethnic groups from 27 countries in the region; (2) library studies in Africa, London, Paris and Leiden.ResultsVernacular names relate to mounds, insects as food, the swarming, and the behaviour of termites. Swarming reproductive, soldiers and queens are collected as food. There are many different ways to harvest them. Termites can also be used as feed for poultry or as bait to catch birds and fish. The mushrooms that grow each year from the fungus gardens on the termite mounds are eaten. The soldiers, the fungus gardens and the soil of termite mounds are used for multiple medicinal purposes. Mounds and soil of termites have numerous functions: for geochemical prospecting, making bricks, plastering houses, making pots, and for storage. Termite soil is often used as fertilizer. The act of eating soil (geophagy) among women, especially those that are pregnant, is practised all over Africa. The mounds can serve as burying places and are often associated with the spiritual world, especially containing the spirits of ancestors. Termites also play a role as oracle, in superstitious beliefs, in art and literature.ConclusionThe following characteristics make termites so appealing: the dominance in the landscape, the social organization, the destructive power, and the provision of food. The study shows that termites play a major role in peoples’ lives, in physical as well as spiritual aspects.

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“…They are found in 4 main families of the Elateroidea superfamily: Lampyridae, Phengodidae, Ragophthalmidae, and Elateridae. Furthermore, luminescent Staphylinidae species, namely Xantholinus sp [Xantholinus (Dejean)], were also described (Costa et al 1986, Rosa 2010. Beetles use their bioluminescence signals for distinct communicative purposes, especially sexual attraction in the adult stage (Lloyd 1983) and defense, illumination and prey attraction in the larval stage (Bechara 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inventory and ecological aspects of bioluminescent beetles in the Cerrado ecosystem and its decline around Emas National Park (Brazil)

Viviani,

Rosa,

Prado

et al. 2023

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Among the richest ecosystems in bioluminescent Coleoptera in Brazil, the Cerrado (savannas) is the most threatened one by agricultural expansion. The Emas (PNE) and Chapada dos Guimarães (PNCG) National parks are 2 of the last main remnants of the original Cerrado ecosystems in Central-west Brazil. During the past 3 decades, we have conducted several expeditions to collect, observe and study bioluminescent beetles occurring in the PNE and surrounding farms. More recently we also started to investigate the PNCG. We recorded a total of 51 bioluminescent species, including fireflies (n = 29), click beetles (n = 11), phengodids (n = 10), and staphylinids (n = 1). The PNE region was the richest one, especially for phengodids (n = 9). Among the habitats that compose the Cerrado physiognomy, the Cerrado and cerradão hosted most of the bioluminescent species, followed by forest, open fields and marshes. Most fireflies inhabiting the Cerrado ecosystem emit yellow-green light, whereas most click beetles emit predominantly green light, and among phengodid species, orange and red-light emission was found in 3 species. The spectacular click beetle Pyrearinus termitilluminans Costa-lodging luminous termite mounds were found in PNE and also reported for the first time at PNCG. In the farms around the PNE, however, a declining number of bioluminescent species was recorded in cerradão areas after the replacement of the surrounding cattle pastures by sugarcane plantations, especially adult phengodid males that were no longer attracted to light traps. Habitat reduction, use of agricultural pesticides and artificial night lighting are thought to be the major causes of such impact on bioluminescent beetle diversity.

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Second record of bioluminescence in larvae of Xantholinus Dejean (Staphylinidae, Xantholinini) from Brazil

Cited by 8 publications

References 9 publications

Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae

Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae

Cultural significance of termites in sub-Saharan Africa

Inventory and ecological aspects of bioluminescent beetles in the Cerrado ecosystem and its decline around Emas National Park (Brazil)

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