Consumer or Decomposer? Behavioral and Morphological Diagnosis of White Grubs

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Autori principali: Yi‐Nuo Chen, Mei Ying, Chang Lu, Lu Jiang
Natura: Artículo Open Access
Pubblicazione: Wiley 2025
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author Yi‐Nuo Chen
Mei Ying
Chang Lu
Lu Jiang
author_facet Yi‐Nuo Chen
Mei Ying
Chang Lu
Lu Jiang
Yi‐Nuo Chen
Mei Ying
Chang Lu
Lu Jiang
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Consumer or Decomposer? Behavioral and Morphological Diagnosis of White Grubs Yi‐Nuo Chen Mei Ying Chang Lu Lu Jiang Ecology and Evolution ABSTRACT Determining the ecological role of insect larvae is crucial for pest control and resource utilization, which usually relies on accurate species identification. White grubs, the larvae of Scarabaeoidea, exhibit highly diverse behaviors but share a similar morphology, making identification challenging. In this study, an improved six‐armed olfactometer was used to test the feeding preferences of two sympatric white grubs, Anomala mongolica and Protaetia brevitarsis . The correlated morphological traits, including the sensory, feeding, and locomotive organs, were investigated using cross‐sections and scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that phytophagous grubs possess well‐developed antennal sensilla and digitiform sensilla on maxillary palps, mandibles with incisors for cutting plant roots, and fossorial setae and sharp claws on thoracic legs. In contrast, saprophagous grubs have underdeveloped digitiform sensilla, relatively short and robust antennae and thoracic legs, and mandibles lacking cutting edges suitable for severing roots. This study provides new insights for determining the ecological roles of white grubs. 10.1002/ece3.71925 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
doi_str_mv 10.1002/ece3.71925
format Artículo Open Access
id wiley_oa_10_1002_ece3_71925
institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
publishDate 2025
publisher Wiley
record_format wiley_oa
spellingShingle Consumer or Decomposer? Behavioral and Morphological Diagnosis of White Grubs
Yi‐Nuo Chen
Mei Ying
Chang Lu
Lu Jiang
Ecology and Evolution
Consumer or Decomposer? Behavioral and Morphological Diagnosis of White Grubs Yi‐Nuo Chen Mei Ying Chang Lu Lu Jiang Ecology and Evolution ABSTRACT Determining the ecological role of insect larvae is crucial for pest control and resource utilization, which usually relies on accurate species identification. White grubs, the larvae of Scarabaeoidea, exhibit highly diverse behaviors but share a similar morphology, making identification challenging. In this study, an improved six‐armed olfactometer was used to test the feeding preferences of two sympatric white grubs, Anomala mongolica and Protaetia brevitarsis . The correlated morphological traits, including the sensory, feeding, and locomotive organs, were investigated using cross‐sections and scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that phytophagous grubs possess well‐developed antennal sensilla and digitiform sensilla on maxillary palps, mandibles with incisors for cutting plant roots, and fossorial setae and sharp claws on thoracic legs. In contrast, saprophagous grubs have underdeveloped digitiform sensilla, relatively short and robust antennae and thoracic legs, and mandibles lacking cutting edges suitable for severing roots. This study provides new insights for determining the ecological roles of white grubs. 10.1002/ece3.71925 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Consumer or Decomposer? Behavioral and Morphological Diagnosis of White Grubs
topic Ecology and Evolution
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.71925