Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure

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dc.contributor.authorKarolyi, Florian
dc.contributor.authorHansal, Teresa
dc.contributor.authorKrenn, Harald W
dc.contributor.authorColville, Jonathan F
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:11:26Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:11:26Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractAlthough anthophilous Coleoptera are regarded to be unspecialised flower-visiting insects, monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) represent one of the most important groups of pollinating insects in South Africa’s floristic hotspot of the Greater Cape Region. South African monkey beetles are known to feed on floral tissue; however, some species seem to specialise on pollen and/or nectar. The present study examined the mouthpart morphology and gut content of various hopliine species to draw conclusions on their feeding preferences. According to the specialisations of their mouthparts, the investigated species were classified into different feeding groups. Adaptations to pollen-feeding included a well-developed, toothed molar and a lobe-like, setose lacinia mobilis on the mandible as well as curled hairs or sclerotized teeth on the galea of the maxillae. Furthermore, elongated mouthparts were interpreted as adaptations for nectar feeding. Floral- and folial-tissue feeding species showed sclerotized teeth on the maxilla, but the lacinia was mostly found to be reduced to a sclerotized ledge. While species could clearly be identified as floral or folial tissue feeding, several species showed intermediate traits suggesting both pollen and nectar feeding adaptations. Mismatches found between mouthpart morphology and previously reported flower visiting behaviours across different genera and species requires alternative explanations, not necessarily associated with feeding preferences. Although detailed examinations of the mouthparts allowed conclusions about the feeding preference and flower-visiting behaviour, additional morphological and behavioural investigations, combined with greater taxon sampling and phylogenetic data, are still necessary to fully understand hopliine host plant relationships, related to monkey beetle diversity.
dc.identifier.apacitationKarolyi, F., Hansal, T., Krenn, H. W., & Colville, J. F. (2016). Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure. <i>PeerJ</i>, 4(4), e1597 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKarolyi, Florian, Teresa Hansal, Harald W Krenn, and Jonathan F Colville "Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure." <i>PeerJ</i> 4, 4. (2016): e1597 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKarolyi, F., Hansal, T., Krenn, H.W. & Colville, J.F. 2016. Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure. <i>PeerJ.</i> 4(4):e1597 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Karolyi, Florian AU - Hansal, Teresa AU - Krenn, Harald W AU - Colville, Jonathan F AB - Although anthophilous Coleoptera are regarded to be unspecialised flower-visiting insects, monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) represent one of the most important groups of pollinating insects in South Africa’s floristic hotspot of the Greater Cape Region. South African monkey beetles are known to feed on floral tissue; however, some species seem to specialise on pollen and/or nectar. The present study examined the mouthpart morphology and gut content of various hopliine species to draw conclusions on their feeding preferences. According to the specialisations of their mouthparts, the investigated species were classified into different feeding groups. Adaptations to pollen-feeding included a well-developed, toothed molar and a lobe-like, setose lacinia mobilis on the mandible as well as curled hairs or sclerotized teeth on the galea of the maxillae. Furthermore, elongated mouthparts were interpreted as adaptations for nectar feeding. Floral- and folial-tissue feeding species showed sclerotized teeth on the maxilla, but the lacinia was mostly found to be reduced to a sclerotized ledge. While species could clearly be identified as floral or folial tissue feeding, several species showed intermediate traits suggesting both pollen and nectar feeding adaptations. Mismatches found between mouthpart morphology and previously reported flower visiting behaviours across different genera and species requires alternative explanations, not necessarily associated with feeding preferences. Although detailed examinations of the mouthparts allowed conclusions about the feeding preference and flower-visiting behaviour, additional morphological and behavioural investigations, combined with greater taxon sampling and phylogenetic data, are still necessary to fully understand hopliine host plant relationships, related to monkey beetle diversity. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 4 J1 - PeerJ LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 SM - 2167-8359 T1 - Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure TI - Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKarolyi F, Hansal T, Krenn HW, Colville JF. Comparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure. PeerJ. 2016;4(4):e1597 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34611.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Statistical Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourcePeerJ
dc.source.journalissue4
dc.source.journalvolume4
dc.source.paginatione1597 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1597
dc.subject.otherTissues
dc.subject.otherMandible
dc.subject.otherTooth
dc.subject.otherMaxilla
dc.subject.otherFlowers
dc.subject.otherHair
dc.subject.otherPollen
dc.subject.otherPlant Nectar
dc.subject.otherFlower visiting
dc.subject.otherMonkey beetles
dc.subject.otherPollination
dc.subject.otherGuild structure
dc.subject.otherFunctional morphology
dc.subject.otherMouthparts
dc.subject.otherHopliines
dc.titleComparative morphology of the mouthparts of the megadiverse South African monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini): feeding adaptations and guild structure
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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