Harden up: metal acquisition in the weaponized ovipositors of aculeate hymenoptera

Baumann, Kate; Vicenzi, Edward P.; Lam, Thomas; Douglas, Janet G.; Arbuckle, Kevin; Cribb, Bronwen W.; Brady, Seán G.; Fry, Bryan G.

doi:10.1007/s00435-018-0403-1

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In Apidae, Formicidae and Sphecidae, only a fine reticulum of muscle fibres surround the reservoir (Robertson, 1968;Bridges Anne and Owen Michael, 1984) and venom injection has been proposed to rely on the use of a 'valve pump' mechanism (Snodgrass, 1925). The aculeus itself is slender and smooth in many species, particularly solitary and social species that are able to sting repeatedly (Baumann et al, 2018). Some social species including honeybees, some paper wasps (Polybia sp.)…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In species that practise sting autotomy, the aculeus has anchoring serrations or barbs. Such structures have developed multiple times in Hymenoptera, and display considerable morphological and functional diversity (Mulfinger et al, 1992;Zhao et al, 2015;Baumann et al, 2018). A very different non-oral venom apparatus can be found in some caterpillars (Kawamoto and Kumada, 1984).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Entomo-venomics: The evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Walker

Robinson

Yeates

et al. 2018

Toxicon

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The insects are a hyperdiverse class containing more species than all other animal groups combined-many of which employ venom to capture prey, deter predators and microorganisms , or facilitate parasitism or extra-oral digestion. However, with the exception of those made by Hymenoptera (wasps, ants and bees), little is known about insect venoms. Here, we review the current literature on insects that use venom for prey capture and predator deterrence, finding evidence for fourteen independent origins of venom usage among insects, mostly among the hyperdiverse holometabolan orders. Many lineages, including the True Bugs (Heteroptera), robber flies (Asilidae), and larvae of many Neuroptera, Coleoptera and Diptera, use mouthpart-associated venoms to paralyse and pre-digest prey during hunting. In contrast, some Hymenoptera and larval Lepidoptera, and one species of beetle, use non-mouthpart structures to inject venom in order to cause pain to deter potential predators. Several recently published insect venom proteomes indicate molecular convergence between insects and other venomous animal groups, with all insect venoms studied so far being potently bioactive cocktails containing both peptides and larger proteins, including novel peptide and protein families. This review summarises the current state of the field of entomo-venomics. 1. Multiple independent origins of venom use among insects The >5 million species of insects estimated to exist on earth today make up the majority of eukaryotic species (May, 1988; Stork, 2018). Moreover, insect diversity goes further than just vast numbers of species. Hexapods (including insects) diverged from their closest relatives, the cave-dwelling remipede crustaceans, ~479 mya, and true insects (Ectognatha) emerged ~440 mya when they diverged from the entognathous hexapods (Collembola, Diplura and Protura) (Misof et al., 2014). Since their early evolution as one of the first animal groups to adapt to terrestrial lifestyles, the insects have undergone a spectacular evolutionary radiation and today occupy a diverse array of ecological niches. Major adaptations powering this radiation include the early adoption of powered flight and copulation for sperm transfer by the early Pterygota, a group that includes all orders except Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) and Zygentoma (silverfish). Holometabolous development-in which larvae must pass through metamorphosis to become adults which differ markedly in their morphology-probably further drove diversification by allowing a single species to occupy multiple niches at different life stages. Of the 34 extant orders, 18 are descended from a holometabolous ancestor that lived ~345 mya (Misof et al., 2014), including the hyperdiverse insectan orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Only one of the hyperdiverse orders, Hemiptera, is hemimetabolous. Alongside these major trends, a multitude of trophic strategies, mating systems and life histories evolved, entailing adaptations spanning the biochemical, morphological and behavi...

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entomo-venomics: The evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Walker

Robinson

Yeates

et al. 2018

Toxicon

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“…Honey bees are social insects that are well known for their symbolic and olfactory communication [6]. Although it is still unknown exactly why honey bees evolved with a barbed stinger [7], the release of the sting produces alarm pheromone and certainly can be helpful at the entrance of the hive, where this sacrificial defensive behavior can be seen as a chemical marking which orients other guard bees to join in the defense.…”

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confidence: 99%

Honey Bee Alarm Pheromone Mediates Communication in Plant–Pollinator–Predator Interactions

Wang

Tan

2019

Insects

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Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination, and in performing this critical function, face numerous threats from predators and parasites during foraging and homing trips. Back in the nest, their defensive behavior drives some individuals to sacrifice themselves while fighting intruders with their stingers or mandibles. During these intense conflicts, bees release alarm pheromone to rapidly communicate with other nest mates about the present danger. However, we still know little about why and how alarm pheromone is used in plant–pollinator–predator interactions. Here, we review the history of previously detected bee alarm pheromones and the current state of the chemical analyses. More new components and functions have been confirmed in honey bee alarm pheromone. Then, we ask how important the alarm pheromones are in intra- and/or inter-species communication. Some plants even adopt mimicry systems to attract either the pollinators themselves or their predators for pollination via alarm pheromone. Pheromones are honest signals that evolved in one species and can be one of the main driving factors affecting co-evolution in plant–pollinator–predator interactions. Our review intends to stimulate new studies on the neuronal, molecular, behavioral, and evolutionary levels in order to understand how alarm pheromone mediates communication in plant–pollinator–predator interactions.

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“…One example of the use of ancestral state estimation to investigate the evolution of venom systems illustrates this well [59]. In that study, morphological traits of the venom system of 34 hymenopteran insect species, such as the degree of serrations on the stinger, were investigated using techniques including ancestral state reconstruction.…”

Section: Ancestral Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic Comparative Methods can Provide Important Insights into the Evolution of Toxic Weaponry

Arbuckle

2018

Toxins

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The literature on chemical weaponry of organisms is vast and provides a rich understanding of the composition and mechanisms of the toxins and other components involved. However, an ecological or evolutionary perspective has often been lacking and is largely limited to (1) molecular evolutionary studies of particular toxins (lacking an ecological view); (2) comparisons across different species that ignore phylogenetic relatedness (lacking an evolutionary view); or (3) descriptive studies of venom composition and toxicology that contain post hoc and untested ecological or evolutionary interpretations (a common event but essentially uninformative speculation). Conveniently, comparative biologists have prolifically been developing and using a wide range of phylogenetic comparative methods that allow us to explicitly address many ecological and evolutionary questions relating to venoms and poisons. Nevertheless, these analytical tools and approaches are rarely used and poorly known by biological toxinologists and toxicologists. In this review I aim to (1) introduce phylogenetic comparative methods to the latter audience; (2) highlight the range of questions that can be addressed using them; and (3) encourage biological toxinologists and toxicologists to either seek out adequate training in comparative biology or seek collaboration with comparative biologists to reap the fruits of a powerful interdisciplinary approach to the field.

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Harden up: metal acquisition in the weaponized ovipositors of aculeate hymenoptera

Cited by 14 publications

References 43 publications

Entomo-venomics: The evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Entomo-venomics: The evolution, biology and biochemistry of insect venoms

Honey Bee Alarm Pheromone Mediates Communication in Plant–Pollinator–Predator Interactions

Phylogenetic Comparative Methods can Provide Important Insights into the Evolution of Toxic Weaponry

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