Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae)
Thermal polymorphism, usually represented by thermal melanism (darker coloration in cooler habitats), is a well-known phenomenon in animals. In Cetoniinae, several species in captivity tend to become darker after several generations of breeding, which is probably caused by a lower temperature than i...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Petr Bogusch Oto Petřík Antonín Hlaváček Ondřej Šebesta Petr Šípek |
| author_facet | Petr Bogusch Oto Petřík Antonín Hlaváček Ondřej Šebesta Petr Šípek |
| author_sort | Petr Bogusch |
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| description | Thermal polymorphism, usually represented by thermal melanism (darker coloration in cooler habitats), is a well-known phenomenon in animals. In Cetoniinae, several species in captivity tend to become darker after several generations of breeding, which is probably caused by a lower temperature than is typical for their native habitats. <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> is a beetle species occurring in Somaliland. This species is easy to breed in captivity, and it is colorful and variable in the proportions of yellow, red, and black coloration. We kept this species from the first instar larva to the adult stage at three different temperatures. Elytra and pronotum of the adults were photographed, and proportions of the three main colors were measured. The proportion of black coloration significantly increased with size and decreased with temperature, while the proportion of yellow color increased. This species is certainly thermally polymorphic, which can be an adaptation for activation even at lower temperatures. The possible mimicry with beetles of the genus <i>Hycleus</i> is discussed. It is the first confirmation of thermal polymorphism in Cetoniinae and one of a few in Coleoptera. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82daec27a9e44dd2838339a70d6d4b30 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-82daec27a9e44dd2838339a70d6d4b302025-01-24T13:35:45ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-01-011616110.3390/insects16010061Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae)Petr Bogusch0Oto Petřík1Antonín Hlaváček2Ondřej Šebesta3Petr Šípek4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanského 62, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech RepublicDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanského 62, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech RepublicDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Praha, Czech RepublicViničná Microscopy Core Facility, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Praha, Czech RepublicDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Praha, Czech RepublicThermal polymorphism, usually represented by thermal melanism (darker coloration in cooler habitats), is a well-known phenomenon in animals. In Cetoniinae, several species in captivity tend to become darker after several generations of breeding, which is probably caused by a lower temperature than is typical for their native habitats. <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> is a beetle species occurring in Somaliland. This species is easy to breed in captivity, and it is colorful and variable in the proportions of yellow, red, and black coloration. We kept this species from the first instar larva to the adult stage at three different temperatures. Elytra and pronotum of the adults were photographed, and proportions of the three main colors were measured. The proportion of black coloration significantly increased with size and decreased with temperature, while the proportion of yellow color increased. This species is certainly thermally polymorphic, which can be an adaptation for activation even at lower temperatures. The possible mimicry with beetles of the genus <i>Hycleus</i> is discussed. It is the first confirmation of thermal polymorphism in Cetoniinae and one of a few in Coleoptera.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/61colorationbeetle breedingcolor ratiopolymorphismhabitatmimicry |
| spellingShingle | Petr Bogusch Oto Petřík Antonín Hlaváček Ondřej Šebesta Petr Šípek Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) Insects coloration beetle breeding color ratio polymorphism habitat mimicry |
| title | Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) |
| title_full | Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) |
| title_short | Thermal Melanism in <i>Pachnoda iskuulka</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) |
| title_sort | thermal melanism in i pachnoda iskuulka i coleoptera scarabaeidae cetoniinae |
| topic | coloration beetle breeding color ratio polymorphism habitat mimicry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/61 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petrbogusch thermalmelanisminipachnodaiskuulkaicoleopterascarabaeidaecetoniinae AT otopetrik thermalmelanisminipachnodaiskuulkaicoleopterascarabaeidaecetoniinae AT antoninhlavacek thermalmelanisminipachnodaiskuulkaicoleopterascarabaeidaecetoniinae AT ondrejsebesta thermalmelanisminipachnodaiskuulkaicoleopterascarabaeidaecetoniinae AT petrsipek thermalmelanisminipachnodaiskuulkaicoleopterascarabaeidaecetoniinae |