@article {9, title = {DNA Extraction from Dry Museum Beetles without Conferring External Morphological Damage}, journal = {PLoS ONEPLoS ONE}, volume = {2}, year = {2007}, month = {2007/03/07}, pages = {e272 - }, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, abstract = {Background

A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, the recovery of nucleic acids from such specimens has involved at least the partial destruction of the specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, such as type specimens.

Methodology

We describe a method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to amplify ≈220 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, and 250{\textendash}345 bp fragments of the multi-copy, nuclear 28s ribosomal DNA gene, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method on beetles collected up to 50 years ago.

Conclusions

This method offers a means of obtaining useful genetic information from rare insects without conferring external morphological damage.

}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000272}, author = {Gilbert, M. Thomas P. and Moore, Wendy and Melchior, Linea and Worobey, Michael} } @article {2, title = {A review of myrmecophily in ant nest beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae): linking early observations with recent findings.}, journal = {Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {94}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Nov}, pages = {871-94}, abstract = {

Myrmecophily provides various examples of how social structures can be overcome to exploit vast and well-protected resources. Ant nest beetles (Paussinae) are particularly well suited for ecological and evolutionary considerations in the context of association with ants because life habits within the subfamily range from free-living and predatory in basal taxa to obligatory myrmecophily in derived Paussini. Adult Paussini are accepted in the ant society, although parasitising the colony by preying on ant brood. Host species mainly belong to the ant families Myrmicinae and Formicinae, but at least several paussine genera are not host-specific. Morphological adaptations, such as special glands and associated tufts of hair (trichomes), characterise Paussini as typical myrmecophiles and lead to two different strategical types of body shape: while certain Paussini rely on the protective type with less exposed extremities, other genera access ant colonies using glandular secretions and trichomes (symphile type). We compare these adaptations with other taxonomic groups of insects by joining contemporary research and early sources and discuss the possibility of an attracting or appeasing effect of the secretion. Species that are ignored by their host ants might use chemical mimicry instead. Furthermore, vibrational signals may contribute to ant-beetle communication, and chemical signals have proven to play a role in host finding. The powerful defense chemistry of paussines as "bombardier beetles" is not used in contact with host ants. We attempt to trace the evolution of myrmecophily in paussines by reviewing important aspects of the association between paussine beetles and ants, i.e. morphological and potential chemical adaptations, life cycle, host specificity, alimentation, parasitism and sound production.

}, keywords = {Animals, Arthropods, Beetles, Motor Activity, Nesting Behavior, Phylogeny, Social Behavior}, issn = {0028-1042}, doi = {10.1007/s00114-007-0271-x}, author = {Geiselhardt, Stefanie F and Peschke, Klaus and Nagel, Peter} }