Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies
The Carabidae family, or ground beetles, is a wide and ecologically significant group within the Coleoptera order, known for its role as natural predators of agricultural pests and as bioindicators of ecosystem health. These beetles employ a variety of behavioral, morphological, and chemical defense...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/709 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849435132910370816 |
|---|---|
| author | Teresa Bonacci |
| author_facet | Teresa Bonacci |
| author_sort | Teresa Bonacci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Carabidae family, or ground beetles, is a wide and ecologically significant group within the Coleoptera order, known for its role as natural predators of agricultural pests and as bioindicators of ecosystem health. These beetles employ a variety of behavioral, morphological, and chemical defense strategies to protect themselves from predators. These mechanisms include gregariousness, stridulation, regurgitation, and chemical defenses, such as the secretion of irritating compounds from specialized glands. The defensive strategies of carabids are classified into passive and active systems, each with varying energetic costs. Chemical substances (e.g., Formic acid, Methacrylic acid, Tiglic acid, Ethacrilic acid, Isovaleric acid, Salicylaldehyde, 1,4-Benzoquinone, Toluquinone, 13-2Kt tridecan-2-one, Undecane, Tridecane, Pentadecane, M-cresol) are particularly important, as they serve to deter predators and combat pathogens like bacteria and fungi. Ground beetles utilize both polar and non-polar compounds in their defense, all contributing to their ecological success. This review explores the array of defensive mechanisms in the Carabidae family, highlighting experimental studies, field observations, and reviews published over the last five decades. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these strategies enhance the survival and fitness of carabid beetles in their natural environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b654c7d4b71b4e3ab7aaf3e51b7b244f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b654c7d4b71b4e3ab7aaf3e51b7b244f2025-08-20T03:26:25ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114670910.3390/biology14060709Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae StrategiesTeresa Bonacci0Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyThe Carabidae family, or ground beetles, is a wide and ecologically significant group within the Coleoptera order, known for its role as natural predators of agricultural pests and as bioindicators of ecosystem health. These beetles employ a variety of behavioral, morphological, and chemical defense strategies to protect themselves from predators. These mechanisms include gregariousness, stridulation, regurgitation, and chemical defenses, such as the secretion of irritating compounds from specialized glands. The defensive strategies of carabids are classified into passive and active systems, each with varying energetic costs. Chemical substances (e.g., Formic acid, Methacrylic acid, Tiglic acid, Ethacrilic acid, Isovaleric acid, Salicylaldehyde, 1,4-Benzoquinone, Toluquinone, 13-2Kt tridecan-2-one, Undecane, Tridecane, Pentadecane, M-cresol) are particularly important, as they serve to deter predators and combat pathogens like bacteria and fungi. Ground beetles utilize both polar and non-polar compounds in their defense, all contributing to their ecological success. This review explores the array of defensive mechanisms in the Carabidae family, highlighting experimental studies, field observations, and reviews published over the last five decades. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these strategies enhance the survival and fitness of carabid beetles in their natural environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/709antipredator strategiescarabidsaposematismchemicalspredators |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Bonacci Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies Biology antipredator strategies carabids aposematism chemicals predators |
| title | Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies |
| title_full | Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies |
| title_short | Unveiling the Defenses: A Current and Comprehensive Review of Coleoptera Carabidae Strategies |
| title_sort | unveiling the defenses a current and comprehensive review of coleoptera carabidae strategies |
| topic | antipredator strategies carabids aposematism chemicals predators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/709 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT teresabonacci unveilingthedefensesacurrentandcomprehensivereviewofcoleopteracarabidaestrategies |