ReviewBiology letters2023
Beetle elytra: evolution, modifications and biological functions.
Review in Biology letters, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 50 citations in OpenAlex.
- Different Scales, Different Rules: How Do Temperature and Radiation Across Macro- and Microclimate Shape Forest Insect Traits?Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Paralysis efficiency (PDToxicon: X · 2026Article
- Differential Phoretic Vector Use Among SympatricEcology and evolution · 2026Article
- Multi-Gait In-Pipe Locomotion via Programmable Friction Reorientation.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Elytral thickness and hidden species-specific traits shape passive thermal responses in beetles.The Journal of experimental biology · 2026Article
- Chromosomal-level genome assembly of Ichthyurus bourgeoisi Gestro using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing.Scientific data · 2026Article
- Interfering with elytral chemistry delays but does not prevent mating in ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius).Die Naturwissenschaften · 2026Article
- Structural background of intraspecific color polymorphism and the driver of geographic patterns in a shining leaf chafer.Frontiers in zoology · 2025Article
- Implications From the Analogous Relationship Between Evolutionary and Learning Processes.BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology · 2025Review
- Exploring desert-adapted beetles with 3D geometric morphometrics.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The Thoracic Anatomy of Two FlightlessInsects · 2025Article
- Sexual Dimorphism of Tarsal Attachment Devices and Their Relation to Mating in Coccinellidae.Journal of morphology · 2025Article
- Symbiotic bacteria associated with different species ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2025Article
- Polarization and reflectance are linked to climate, size and mechanistic constraints in a group of scarab beetles.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Adaptative Variation in a Neotropical Dung Beetle: Females and Gamma Males Present Tunneler Morphology, While Beta and Alpha Males Present Wing Morphology for Velocity.Ecology and evolution · 2024Article
- Study of Self-Locking Structure Based on Surface Microstructure of Dung Beetle Leg Joint.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Bioarchitectonic Nanophotonics by Replication and Systolic Miniaturization of Natural Forms.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Insect Flight: State of the Field and Future Directions.Integrative and comparative biology · 2024Article
- Evolution, types, and distribution of flight control devices on wings and elytra in bark beetles.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Evolutionary history of tyrosine-supplementing endosymbionts in pollen-feeding beetles.The ISME journal · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Conversion of forewings into hardened covers, elytra, was a ground-breaking morphological adaptation that has contributed to the extraordinary evolutionary success of beetles. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the functional aspects of these structures is still fragmentary and scattered across a large number of studies. Here, we have synthesized the presently available information on the evolution, development, modifications and biological functions of this crucial evolutionary novelty. The formation of elytra took place in the earliest evolution of Coleoptera, very likely already in the Carboniferous, and was achieved through the gradual process of progressive forewing sclerotization and the formation of inward directed epipleura and a secluded sub-elytral space. In many lineages of modern beetles, the elytra have been distinctly modified. This includes multiple surface modifications, a rigid connection or fusion of the elytra, or partial or complete reduction. Beetle elytra can be involved in a very broad spectrum of functions: mechanical protection of hind wings and body, anti-predator strategies, thermoregulation and water saving, water harvesting, flight, hind wing folding, diving and swimming, self-cleaning and burrow cleaning, phoresy of symbiotic organisms, mating and courtship, and acoustic communication. We postulate that the potential of the elytra to take over multiple tasks has enormously contributed to the unparalleled diversification of beetles.
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