Energy use by the mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) for dispersal by flight

Abstract

The mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins is a major native pest of Pinus Linnaeus (Pinaceae) in western North America. Host colonization by the mountain pine beetle is associated with an obligatory dispersal phase, during which beetles fly in search of a suitable host. Mountain pine beetles use stored energy from feeding in the natal habitat to power flight before host colonization and brood production. Lipids fuel mountain pine beetle flight, although it is not known whether other energy sources are also used during flight. In the present study, we compare the level of energy substrates, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids of individual mountain pine beetles flown on flight mills with unflown control beetles. We use a colorimetric method to measure the entire metabolite content of each individual beetle. The present study reveals that mountain pine beetles are composed of more protein and lipid than carbohydrate. Both female and male mountain pine beetles use lipids and carbohydrates as energy sources during flight. There is variation between sexes, however, in the energy substrates used for flight. Male mountain pine beetles use protein, in addition to lipids and carbohydrates, to fuel flight, whereas protein content is not different between flown and control females.

Assessment of Age, Gender, Mating Status, and Size on Single and Repeat Flight Capabilities of Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Although no relationship between flight capacity and body mass of H. lauri was detected in this study, repeat flights did have negative effect on H. lauri survivorship rates. Energy use and depletion of ‘fuel’ (e.g., carbohydrates) by flying H. lauri is undetermined and could be investigated with flight mill studies similar to those reported here ( Wijerathna and Evenden 2019 ).…”

“…In contrast, no mortality was observed for nonflying control weevils that were maintained in an identical manner (i.e., same sized containers, diet, temperature, humidity, and light cycle) over the ~12 wk trials were run for repeat flight assays. For some species of curculionids, body mass may have important impacts on flight capacity and weight loss due to flight maybe indicative of metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, or proteins to power flight ( Jones et al 2019 , Wijerathna and Evenden 2019 ). Although no relationship between flight capacity and body mass of H. lauri was detected in this study, repeat flights did have negative effect on H. lauri survivorship rates.…”

Peer Review #1 of "Identification of genes and gene expression associated with dispersal capacity in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (v0.1)"

“…Several GO terms and KEGG pathways indicate the importance of metabolic processes, such as glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and serine metabolism. Serine, in particular, is associated with the metabolism of lipids (Gao et al 2018), a known energy source in insects and a major fuel source for sustained flight in mountain pine beetles (Evenden et al 2014;Wijerathna and Evenden 2019). This is supported by several upregulated lipid metabolism-related genes and pathways (Table S2; Fig.…”

Identification of genes and gene expression associated with dispersal capacity in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Several GO terms and KEGG pathways indicate the importance of metabolic processes, such as glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and serine metabolism. Serine, in particular, is associated with the metabolism of lipids ( Gao et al, 2018 ), a known energy source in insects and a major fuel source for sustained flight in mountain pine beetles ( Evenden, Whitehouse & Sykes, 2014 ; Wijerathna & Evenden, 2019 ). This is supported by several upregulated lipid metabolism-related genes and pathways ( Table S2 ; Fig.…”