28 research outputs found
Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography
The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the most economically important insect pest of coffee
globally. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to reconstruct the respiratory system of this
species for the first time; this is the smallest insect (ca. 2 mm long) for which this has been done to date.
Anatomical details of the spiracles and tracheal tubes are described, images presented, and new terms
introduced. The total volume and the relationship between tracheal lumen diameter, length and volume
are also presented. The total length of the tracheal tubes are seventy times the length of the entire
animal. Videos and a 3D model for use with mobile devices are included as supplementary information;
these could be useful for future research and for teaching insect anatomy to students and the public in
general.This paper benefitted from the sub-award
agreement S15192.01 between Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of Granada, as part of a USDANIFA
Award 2014-70016-23028 to S.J. Brown (KSU), “Developing an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to
Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Disease” (2015–2020)
Micro-computed tomography and histology to explore internal morphology in decapod larvae
Traditionally, the internal morphology of crustacean larvae has been studied using destructive
techniques such as dissection and microscopy. The present study combines advances in microcomputed
tomography (micro-CT) and histology to study the internal morphology of decapod larvae,
using the common spider crab (Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922) as a model and resolving the individual
limitations of these techniques. The synergy of micro-CT and histology allows the organs to be easily
identified, revealing simultaneously the gross morphology (shape, size, and location) and histological
organization (tissue arrangement and cell identification). Micro-CT shows mainly the exoskeleton,
musculature, digestive and nervous systems, and secondarily the circulatory and respiratory systems,
while histology distinguishes several cell types and confirms the organ identity. Micro-CT resolves a
discrepancy in the literature regarding the nervous system of crab larvae. The major changes occur in
the metamorphosis to the megalopa stage, specifically the formation of the gastric mill, the shortening
of the abdominal nerve cord, the curving of the abdomen beneath the cephalothorax, and the
development of functional pereiopods, pleopods, and lamellate gills. The combination of micro-CT and
histology provides better results than either one alone.Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the INIA
project (grant number RTA2011-00004-00-00) to G.G. and a pre-doctoral fellowship to D.C. (FPI-INIA)