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Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva

Journal Sci Rep 11(1):14594 (2021)
Title Pivot burrowing of scarab beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) larva
Laboratory Laboratory of Pattern Formation〈Prof. KONDO Shigeru〉
Abstract

Though little is known about the ecology of scarab beetle larvae, even less is understood regarding their movement. With a thick body trunk compared to their length and downward-facing appendages too small to shovel earth, their movement through soil has not been carefully observed. We established a larval movement observation and analysis system and found that the last larval stages of Trypoxylus dichotomus (scarab beetle) burrow in two different ways depending on the hardness of soil. In soft soil, the larvae use the peristaltic motion of expansion and contraction. In more compacted soil, they dig by rotating their body like a backflip. It is thought that the larvae can adapt to diverse soil conditions using these two different digging methods. These results are important for understanding soil ecology as well as showing natural examples for potential advances in excavation technology.

Authors

Haruhiko Adachi (1), Makoto Ozawa (2), Satoshi Yagi (2), Makoto Seita (1), Shigeru Kondo (1)

  1. Graduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
  2. Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8531, Japan.
PubMed 34272407

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