A mysterious wing spine in male coffee berry borers (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Authors

  • Fernando E. Vega Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Bldg. 001, Beltsville, Maryland, USA 20705
  • Ann Simpkins Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Bldg. 001, Beltsville, Maryland, USA 20705
  • Gary Bauchan Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Bldg. 012, Beltsville, Maryland, USA 20705
  • Jorge M. Valdéz-Carrasco Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo, Apartado Postal 56230, Km. 36.5, Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Edo. de México, México
  • Alfredo Castillo El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.5, Tapachula, 30700 Chiapas, México
  • Francisco Infante El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.5, Tapachula, 30700 Chiapas, México

Keywords:

Hypothenemus hampei, broca del café, stridulation, acoustics

Abstract

A spine was observed in the hind wings of male coffee berry borers, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), although it was not present in all males. Females do not exhibit the spine. The function of the spine remains unknown although one possibility is that it might have had a stridulatory role in acoustic communication.

 

Sumario

La presencia de una espina fue observada en las alas posteriores de machos de la broca del café, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), pero no todos los machos la tienen. Las hembras no poseen la espina en el ala. La función de la espina es desconocida, pero es posible que haya tenido un rol en estridulación y comunicación acústica en esta especie.

 

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Issue

Vol. 98, No. 1 (March 2015)

Section

Scientific Notes

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