Metals in mandibles of stored product insects: do zinc and manganese enhance the ability of larvae to infest seeds?

Morgan, Thomas D.; Baker, Pamela J.; Kramer, Karl J.; Basibuyuk, Hasan H.; Quicke, Donald L. J.

doi:10.1016/s0022-474x(02)00019-x

Cited by 69 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In each case, a single metal dominated and there is a tendency that the predominant metal is conserved within a given family. Similar results were obtained by Morgan et al [52] who additionally found that larvae also have metal-enriched mandibles and suggested that this helps them infest seeds. In addition to mandibles, the ovipositors of several arthropod exhibit cutting teeth and in particular those of species boring into harder substrates have also been shown to be enriched with Zn or Mn; one species of the Megalyroidae displays both metals though in spatially distinct locations [53].…”

Section: Zinc and Manganese In Arthropodssupporting

confidence: 87%

Heavy Metals in the Jaws of Invertebrates

2008

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Section: Zinc and Manganese In Arthropodssupporting

confidence: 87%

Heavy Metals in the Jaws of Invertebrates

2008

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“…Most other reported wasp species have higher amounts of zinc and/or manganese in their ovipositors Vincent and King, 1995;Polidori et al, 2013;Quicke et al, 2004). Similarly, the presence of transition metals in larvae mandibles of Stegobium paniceum and Gibbium aequinoctiale species of beetles aids in boring into hard seeds as oppposed to others without metals, which are incapable of seed boring (Morgan et al, 2003). The presence of transition metals in insect cuticle and mandible is hypothesized to increase material hardness to permit cutting through hard substrates with minimal wear (Schofield et al, 2002;Schofield et al, 2003;Lichtenegger, 2003;Quicke et al, 1998;Hillerton and Vincent, 1982;Fawke et al, 1997).…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanics of substrate boring by fig wasps

Kundanati

Gundiah

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Female insects of diverse orders bore into substrates to deposit their eggs. Such insects must overcome several biomechanical challenges to successfully oviposit, which include the selection of suitable substrates through which the ovipositor can penetrate without itself fracturing. In many cases, the insect may also need to steer and manipulate the ovipositor within the substrate to deliver eggs at desired locations before rapidly retracting her ovipositor to avoid predation. In the case of female parasitoid ichneumonid wasps, this process is repeated multiple times during her lifetime, thus testing the ability of the ovipositioning apparatus to endure fracture and fatigue. What specific adaptations does the ovipositioning apparatus of a female ichneumonoid wasp possess to withstand these challenges? We addressed this question using a model system composed of parasitoid and pollinator fig wasps. First, we show that parasitoid ovipositor tips have teeth-like structures, preferentially enriched with zinc, unlike the smooth morphology of pollinator ovipositors. We describe sensillae present on the parasitoid ovipositor tip that are likely to aid in the detection of chemical species and mechanical deformations and sample microenvironments within the substrate. Second, using atomic force microscopy, we show that parasitoid tip regions have a higher modulus compared with regions proximal to the abdomen in parasitoid and pollinator ovipositors. Finally, we use videography to film wasps during substrate boring and analyse buckling of the ovipositor to estimate the forces required for substrate boring. Together, these results allow us to describe the biomechanical principles underlying substrate boring in parasitoid ichneumonid wasps. Such studies may be useful for the biomimetic design of surgical tools and in the use of novel mechanisms to bore through hard substrates.

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“…In insects, as well as a variety of other organisms, a diversity of metals, including zinc, manganese, iron, and calcium are found concentrated within the cuticle (exoskeleton/ biological polymer) of mandibles, mouth hooks, claws, and ovipositors (Hillerton and Vincent 1982;Hillerton et al 1984;Schofield and Lefevre 1989;Quicke et al 1998;Fontaine et al 1991;Schofield 2001;Lichtenegger et al 2003;Morgan et al 2003;Birkedal et al 2006). While the characteristics of the biological polymer matrix are significant in terms of generating changes in physical properties (Vincent and Wegst 2004), the presence or absence of metals also appears to have an affect, which is not yet fully understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect mandibles—comparative mechanical properties and links with metal incorporation

Cribb

Stewart

Huang

et al. 2007

Naturwissenschaften

112

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A number of arthropod taxa contain metals in their mandibles (jaws), such as zinc, manganese, iron, and calcium. The occurrence of zinc and its co-located halogen chlorine have been studied in relation to the mechanical properties and shown to be linked in a direct fashion with increasing concentration. Hardness along with elastic modulus (stiffness) has also been linked to zinc and halogen concentration in some marine polychaete worms. The metal appears to be incorporated within the biological matrix, possibly bonding with proteins. However, the comparative advantage of metal inclusion has not been tested. It is possible that without metals, alternative mechanisms are used to achieve hardness of equal value in similar 'tools' such as mandibles. This question has direct bearing on the significance of metal hardening. In the present article, we compare across mandibles from six termite species, including samples with major zinc concentration, minor manganese, and no metals. Nanoindentation, electron microscopy, and electron microanalysis are used to assess metal concentration, form, and mechanical properties. The data demonstrate that termite mandibles lacking metals when fully developed have lower values for hardness and elastic modulus. Zinc is linked to a relative 20% increase in hardness when compared with mandibles devoid of metals. The similar transition metal, manganese, found in minor concentrations, is not linked to any significant increase in these mechanical properties. This raises the question of the function of manganese, which is as commonly found in insect mandibles as zinc and often located in the same mandibles.

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Metals in mandibles of stored product insects: do zinc and manganese enhance the ability of larvae to infest seeds?

Cited by 69 publications

References 23 publications

Heavy Metals in the Jaws of Invertebrates

Heavy Metals in the Jaws of Invertebrates

Biomechanics of substrate boring by fig wasps

Insect mandibles—comparative mechanical properties and links with metal incorporation

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