Phloeodes diabolicus

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Phloeodes diabolicus
Phloeodes diabolicus.jpg
Phloeodes diabolicus, adult
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Zopheridae
Subfamily: Zopherinae
Tribe: Zopherini
Genus: Phloeodes
Species:
P. diabolicus
Binomial name
Phloeodes diabolicus
(LeConte, 1851)
Synonyms

Nosoderma diabolicum, Noserus diabolicus

Phloeodes diabolicus (formerly Nosoderma diabolicum), common name: diabolical ironclad beetle, is a beetle of the Family Zopheridae. It is native to the California Floristic Province in the states of California and Baja California, where it is believed to eat fungi growing under rotting tree bark. [1] It is flightless and has a lifespan of eight years, [2] compared to the weeks or months long lifespan of typical beetles. [3]

Contents

This beetle is noted for its durability. Its thick, densely layered and interlocking elytra, connected to the ventral cuticle by complex lateral support structures, are able to support maximum force of 149 newtons, approximately equal to the force exerted by 15 kilograms or 33.069 lbs. [2]

Phloeodes diabolicus variation sjh.jpg

Shell structure

These inch-long beetles have the potential for extremely long lifespans due to their structure and shape. Many beetles have a rounded body, but the diabolical ironclad is different, having a flat shape and low-to-the-ground profile makes these beetles extremely hard to squash. The compression is not focused on one spot but rather spread across the shell evenly distributing the force over the whole shell. The shell provides many issues for entomologists trying to display their specimen. The beetles cannot be mounted normally using stainless steel pins, but rather they need to drill holes in the shell where they desire to place the pin. [4]

Utilizing a jigsaw-like layering of their joints and appendages provide stability to withstand such extreme forces. This is done by layering multiple different scales of different sizes, ranging from microscopic to visible sizes, providing exceptional mechanical strength. The jigsaw pattern seen is a multilayered exoskeleton, including a waterproof epicuticle, an underlying exocuticle and lastly an internal endocuticle. In each of the cuticles, polysaccharide α-chitin combine with proteins to form fibers within each layer. These fibers are twisted and stacked upon each other creating a "helicoid" arrangement, forming laminated structures. This formation allows for strong, energy-absorbent and tolerant structures. Being energy absorbent, the skeleton is able to deflect, twist and arrest crack propagation between each layer. The lack of flight allows the hardened elytra to be locked in place with the hindwings which aids the structure. Using a compositional analysis it was found that the microstructure of exoskeleton is protein-rich and contains no inorganic structure (common in crustacean exoskeleton), while also containing a thicker endocuticle than other insects. [5]

There are two main areas that allow the skeleton to endure such forces as much as 39,000 times its own body weight. The first is the connection between the two halves of the shell: the interconnections are zipper-like providing additional strength and are stiff and resist bending pressure. The back of the beetle is not interlocked in the same way allowing the bottom halves to slide past each other, providing flexibility to absorb squishing compression. The second area is the puzzle-like design that runs the length of the back connecting the left and right side. Protrusions called blades fit together like jigsaw pieces, glued together by proteins aiding in damage resistance. The connection allows the blades to absorb impacts without snapping. The protection allows the beetle to be almost predator proof, denying most species the ability to break the shell. [6]

The structure of its shell has inspired efforts to design similar materials and joints for use in submillimeter engineering. [7]

Ecological role and biological characteristics

Phloeodes diabolicus is a member of the Phloeodes genus under the Zopheridae family, sharing a range with a reproductively isolated sister species Phloeodes plicatus , [8] that encompasses California, portions of southern Oregon, and Baja California. Like other Zopherini these insects are holometabolous and well adapted to wood boring, particularly in the larval stage showing a larger thorax and smaller legs than non-wood boring beetles. [9] These beetles are believed to be non-specific decomposers eating rotten wood from many trees and shrubs and the fungi that grow upon them, however, Phloeodes diabolicus is noted to be found most frequently underneath the bark of decomposing oak trees and believed to prefer white rot fungi as a food source. This species is flightless with a fused shell theorized to have evolved for protection from crushing and evaporative moisture loss over its long lifespan of approximately eight years. [3] This allows it to survive in drier climates and resist predation by birds and lizards without being able to fly away from them. [10]

Other commonalities with the rest of its associated family include a tendency to play dead when threatened and the ability to go long periods without food or water. Unlike other species in its family the waxy secreted coating that normally prevents moisture loss is believed to also serve a function in sexual attraction as in Phloeodes diabolicus this secretion is a masculine secondary sex characteristic. [1]

Taxonomic history

This species was named for and initially categorized taxonomically by John LeConte. When this species was first identified in the 1800s it was classified as a member of the Nosoderma genus, as were all of what were later re-classified as Phloeodes. The genus Noserus was also described by LeCont during the 1800s but is later made synonymous with Phloeodes in 1999, as it was determined that Phloeodes diabolicus and Phloedes (Noserus) plicatus, both key species in their genera, belong in the same genus. The entire genus was moved from Tenebrionidae to Zopheridae . [11] Multiple other species, such as P. latipennis, that were initially identified by a few specimens were later made synonymous with Phloeodes diabolicus starting in 1936 and continuing until 2006. Individual differences in taxonomic classification continue, including the entire genus Phloeodes being absorbed into Nosoderma (Verodes) but as of 2008 the genus Phloeodes has been restored and Phloedes diabolicus is classified within it. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zopherinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Zopherinae is a subfamily of beetles, commonly known as ironclad beetles. Together with the subfamily Usechinae, they have been treated historically as a family, but have recently been joined by several additional taxa, making the Zopheridae a much larger composite family, and the Zopherinae are now only a small component within it, consisting of seven genera in the tribe Zopherini and one, Phellopsis in its own tribe (Phellopsini).

<i>Phellopsis porcata</i> Species of beetle

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<i>Zopherus concolor</i> Species of beetle

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Zopherus nervosus is a species of ironclad beetle in the family Zopheridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthropod exoskeleton</span>

Arthropods are covered with a tough, resilient integument, cuticle or exoskeleton of chitin. Generally the exoskeleton will have thickened areas in which the chitin is reinforced or stiffened by materials such as minerals or hardened proteins. This happens in parts of the body where there is a need for rigidity or elasticity. Typically the mineral crystals, mainly calcium carbonate, are deposited among the chitin and protein molecules in a process called biomineralization. The crystals and fibres interpenetrate and reinforce each other, the minerals supplying the hardness and resistance to compression, while the chitin supplies the tensile strength. Biomineralization occurs mainly in crustaceans. In insects and arachnids, the main reinforcing materials are various proteins hardened by linking the fibres in processes called sclerotisation and the hardened proteins are called sclerotin. The dorsal tergum, ventral sternum, and the lateral pleura form the hardened plates or sclerites of a typical body segment.

<i>Zopherus</i> Genus of beetles

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<i>Lagria</i> Genus of beetles

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<i>Argoporis</i> Genus of beetles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Foley, Ian A.; Ivie, Michael A. (2008-11-10). "A phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Zopherini with a review ofthe species and generic classification (Coleoptera: Zopheridae)". Zootaxa. 1928 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1928.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  2. 1 2 "Even a car can't kill this beetle. Here's why". Science. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 magazine, Davide Castelvecchi,Nature. "This Beetle's Stab-Proof Exoskeleton Makes It Almost Indestructible". Scientific American. Retrieved 2020-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Machemer, Theresa. "The Secrets of the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle's Almost Unsquishable Strength". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  5. ↑ Chen, Po-Yu (October 2020). "Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications". Nature. 586 (7830): 502–504. Bibcode:2020Natur.586..502C. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-02840-1 . PMID   33087908.
  6. ↑ "The diabolical ironclad beetle can survive getting run over by a car. Here's how". Science News. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  7. ↑ Chen, Po-Yu (2020-10-22). "Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications". Nature. 586 (7830): 502–504. Bibcode:2020Natur.586..502C. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02840-1. ISSN   0028-0836. PMID   33087908.
  8. ↑ Polihronakis, Maxi; Caterino, Michael S (2010). "Contrasting patterns of phylogeographic relationships in sympatric sister species of ironclad beetles (Zopheridae: Phloeodes spp.) in California's Transverse Ranges". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 10 (1): 195. Bibcode:2010BMCEE..10..195P. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-10-195 . ISSN   1471-2148. PMC   2904329 . PMID   20573263.
  9. ↑ FOLEY, IAN A.; IVIE, MICHAEL A. (2008-01-25). "A revision of the genus Phellopsis LeConte (Coleoptera: Zopheridae)". Zootaxa. 1689 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1689.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  10. ↑ "Why the diabolical ironclad beetle is nearly impossible to squish | Science News". 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  11. ↑ Bousquet, Yves; Thomas, Donald B.; Bouchard, Patrice; Smith, Aaron D.; Aalbu, Rolf L.; Johnston, M. Andrew; Steiner Jr., Warren E. (2018-01-15). "Catalogue of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of North America". ZooKeys (728): 1–455. Bibcode:2018ZooK..728....1B. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.728.20602 . ISSN   1313-2970. PMC   5799738 .


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