Functional Morphology of the Thorax of the Click Beetle Campsosternus auratus (Coleoptera, Elateridae), with an Emphasis on Its Jumping Mechanism.

ABSTRACT: We investigated and described the thoracic structures, jumping mechanism, and promesothoracic interlocking mechanism of the click beetle Campsosternus auratus (Drury) (Elateridae: Dendrometrinae). Two experiments were conducted to reveal the critical muscles and sclerites involved in the jumping mechanism. They showed that M2 and M4 are essential clicking-related muscles. The prosternal process, the prosternal rest of the mesoventrite, the mesoventral cavity, the base of the elytra, and the posterodorsal evagination of the pronotum are critical clicking-related sclerites. The destruction of any of these muscles and sclerites resulted in the loss of normal clicking and jumping ability. The mesonotum was identified as a highly specialized saddle-shaped biological spring that can store elasti

SUBMITTER: Ruan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8955093 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature