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CARABUS DUFOURI


Carabus dufouri is a ground beetle, under the family Carabidae and order Coleoptera, found in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. it is a black-brown, coloured beetle, endemic to Spain .snails are one of the main gastropods consumed by Carabus dufouri .it's length is 5.63 +/- 0.354 um, with between posterior angles of pronotum is 2.96 +/- 0.156 and 1.91 +/- 0.121 um respectively in males and in females; 6.84 +/- 0.141 um in length, 3.38 +/- 0.239 and 2.03 +/-0.065 um in the width between posterior angles of proton. it is an elongated specie of cyrtonus that has 28 number of chromosomes. it is part of the Mesocarabus a subgenus of the that is widely distributed in Central and Southern Europe, reaching to North Africa. it comprises of 3 species and 42 subspecies. C. dufouri can also be considered an eurytopic species because it can be found from different low to high altitudes, open forest and closed canopies.

HEAD
The head is smooth and conformed, the mandibles are straight on the inner side and curved by the dorsal side. the labrum was sub pentagonal and usually the same size and length with the mandibles. it is also trilobated at the dorsal end. Antennae is long just like every other specie in the Carabus genus.

Thorax
The thorax are short, light and in puberty, with noticeable insertion marks that will develop into metathorax and mesothorax in adulthood. Carabus dufouri is different from M.rugosus with the lateral margins, but similar with the stripes of hair on each side of the thorax. The mesothorax and the metathorax are undistinguished at pupa stage.

Abdomen
There are lateral lines on the abdomen that are segmented into 2,3,4,5 and 6, with lateral lobated expansion on each side, this allows for growth during the developmental stages. the relative size of the lobes are unique to each segments but are differentiated and unequal if compared in general. there is a band of smooth strong testacean hair on each side of the margin running laterally at the sides. the bands are also present on the posterior of the urotergite. the sixth and seven segments are smooth, but have hair only on the base of the urogomphi; the end of the urogomphi is rather smooth.the abdomen of a pupa consist of 1 to 8 segments, the lobes on the 1st and last is not observable and spiracles are observable on the seventh anterior. when pupa starts to enlarge the anterior part of the pupa starts to develop and the pleurae becomes visible.

= SEASONALITY AND REPRODUCTION = Carabus dufouri displays evolutionary adaptability to its environment by its seasonal breeding life-cycle where winter breeders, optimal time for reproduction is in October in cold regions like North Africa, but autumn breeders in temperate region. they require low temperature and enough humidity for oviposition and development. it has a rhythmic active lifestyle, in which it's activity is reduced in summer and increased in winter. during summer it tries to adapt to the weather conditions by hiding under shaded habitats like tree trunks, stones etc, and sometimes go into gonad dormancy.Dormancy ends when photoperiod changes from a long to short day. so activity begins early September for males and mid September (usually two weeks after males) for September. on average there are 6 ovipositions per seasons that results in 0-19.44 eggs laid. C.dufouri usually have low reproductive rate and high development success: 70% of eggs hatch under normal conditions and 50% of them completely developed.

BEHAVIOURAL RESPONCE TO OLFACTORY SENSES IN CARABIDS
Carabids use their olfactory senses to look for suitable habitats, rich in nutrients. Agonum dorsale will aggregrate to areas with high Aphids density, while Nebria brevicollis will aggregate to areas with high densities of collembolan. Aphids releases a pheromone identified as (E)-$$\beta$$-farnesene (EBF),in the presence of danger.this pheromone is a defence allomones that act as a prey finding kairomone to carabids.

olfactory cells of Bembidiini are also receptive to methyl esters of palmitic and oleic acid produced by Oscillatoria animalis and Oscillatoria subbrevis (prey) and have specialized organs; sensible on the antenna for sensing prey associated to their habitat.

PARENTAL CARE
carabids use ovipositor for aggregating the soil into a capsule shape for eggs laid by the female to increase the survival of the eggs. female uses ovipositor to dig out a cell out of the ground and lays her eggs singly in them. they rest on the eggs until the larvae have hatched and become pigmented. during this period the female do not leave the nest in search of food but feeds on body fat. this gestation period can take up to 14 days to 30days. the movement of the female covers the eggs with loamy soil and turn the larvae. female will often bite the male of the same species to keep the larvae safe The pigmentation of the last larvae signals the mother to leave the nest.

LARVAE BEHAVIOUR
larvae are swift and mobile. they perform gyrator movements with their head when moving. the gyrator behaviour is considered seeking behaviour. larvae hunt springtails on the soil surface.larvae has no visual senses when hunting, because attack also occur in the nigh t. larvae uses its tactile stimuli for hunting. Attack takes place when trichobothria of larvae touches a spring tail. Attack on springtail has two phases slow phase and rapid phase. attack on prey takes 33 to 195 ms, on average 60ms while fast phase takes 7- 12ms. springtail are swift collembolas which uses their tail for jumping in the presence of external stimuli. larvae is successful in hunting springtails because the touch of the trichobothria is too gentle that the flight stimulus for the collembola.

= REFRENCE =