Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva
Abstract Many organisms live in the soil but only a little is known about their ecology especially movement style. Scarab beetle larvae do not have appendages to shovel soil and their trunk is thick compared to their body length. Hence, their movement through the soil is perplexing. Here, we establi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93915-0 |
| _version_ | 1818751793748770816 |
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| author | Haruhiko Adachi Makoto Ozawa Satoshi Yagi Makoto Seita Shigeru Kondo |
| author_facet | Haruhiko Adachi Makoto Ozawa Satoshi Yagi Makoto Seita Shigeru Kondo |
| author_sort | Haruhiko Adachi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Many organisms live in the soil but only a little is known about their ecology especially movement style. Scarab beetle larvae do not have appendages to shovel soil and their trunk is thick compared to their body length. Hence, their movement through the soil is perplexing. Here, we established the observation and analysis system of larval movement and found that the last larval instars of Trypoxylus dichotomus burrow in two different ways, depending on the hardness of the soil. If the soil is soft, the larvae keep their body in a straight line and use longitudinal expansion and contraction; if the soil is hard, they flex and rotate their body. It is thought that the larvae adapt to diverse soil conditions using two different excavation methods. These results are important for understanding the soil ecology and pose a challenge to engineer of newer excavation technology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:41:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5bfb1ac484d445baa411134630f3ad9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:41:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5bfb1ac484d445baa411134630f3ad92022-12-21T21:20:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-011111610.1038/s41598-021-93915-0Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larvaHaruhiko Adachi0Makoto Ozawa1Satoshi Yagi2Makoto Seita3Shigeru Kondo4Graduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka UniversityGraduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka UniversityAbstract Many organisms live in the soil but only a little is known about their ecology especially movement style. Scarab beetle larvae do not have appendages to shovel soil and their trunk is thick compared to their body length. Hence, their movement through the soil is perplexing. Here, we established the observation and analysis system of larval movement and found that the last larval instars of Trypoxylus dichotomus burrow in two different ways, depending on the hardness of the soil. If the soil is soft, the larvae keep their body in a straight line and use longitudinal expansion and contraction; if the soil is hard, they flex and rotate their body. It is thought that the larvae adapt to diverse soil conditions using two different excavation methods. These results are important for understanding the soil ecology and pose a challenge to engineer of newer excavation technology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93915-0 |
| spellingShingle | Haruhiko Adachi Makoto Ozawa Satoshi Yagi Makoto Seita Shigeru Kondo Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva Scientific Reports |
| title | Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva |
| title_full | Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva |
| title_fullStr | Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva |
| title_short | Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva |
| title_sort | pivot burrowing of scarab beetle trypoxylus dichotomus larva |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93915-0 |
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