title: Adaptation of the egg of the desert beetle, Microdera punctipennis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), to arid environment.
abstract: Microdera punctipennis Kaszab (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is an endemic species in Guerbantonggut desert in China. To explore the ways that M. punctipennis egg adapts to dry desert environment, morphological characteristics of the egg was investigated along with the egg of the nondesert beetle Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Water loss rate and survival rate of these eggs under different dry treatments (relative humidity0, 10, and 20%) were measured to evaluate the desiccation resistance of the eggs at different developmental stages (day 0, 2, and 5 eggs). Our results showed that the 50-egg weight in T. molitor was heavier than M. punctipennis, while the 50-first-instar larva weight in T. molitor was almost the same as in M. punctipennis. The water loss rate of M. punctipennis egg under dry conditions was significantly lower than T. molitor, and the egg survival rate was significantly higher than T. molitor. The estimated developmental threshold temperature of M. punctipennis egg was 18.30°C, and the critical thermal maximum of M. punctipennis egg is above 39°C. These features partly account for the adaptability of M. punctipennis to desert environment in egg stage.
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical School, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002 China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China.
authors.forename: Fuchun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, 14 Shengli Road, Urumqi 830046, China majiuci@xju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D003889:Desert Climate; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000502:physiology
keywords: developmental threshold; morphological characteristic; survival rate; water loss rate