Micro-CT to Document the Coffee Bean Weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), Inside Field-Collected Coffee Berries (Coffea canephora)

The coffee bean weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), is a cosmopolitan insect with >100 hosts, and has been reported as a pest of stored coffee. During a study involving the coffee berry borer, we observed coffee bean weevils emerging from field-collected coffee berries and used micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) scans to observe the insect inside the berry. Two eggs had eclosed inside the berry, resulting in observations of a newly eclosed adult beetle and a 5th instar larva, each feeding on one of the two seeds. This is the first time since 1775, when the insect was first described, that the insect has been observed inside a coffee berry

Anatomical study of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using micro-computed tomography

Traditionally, the study of anatomy in insects has been based on dissection techniques. Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) is an X-ray based technique that allows visualization of the internal anatomy of insects in situ and does not require dissections. We report on the use of micro-CT scans to study, in detail, the internal structures and organs of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most damaging insect pest of coffee worldwide. Detailed images and videos allowed us to make the first description of the aedeagus and the first report of differences between the sexes based on internal anatomy (flight musculature, midgut shape, hindgut convolutions, brain shape and size) and external morphology (lateral outline of the pronotum and number of abdominal tergites). This study is the first complete micro-CT reconstruction of the anatomy of an insect and is also the smallest insect to have been evaluated in this way. High quality rendered images, and additional supplementary videos and 3D models are suitable for use with mobile devices and are useful tools for future research and as teaching aids.This paper benefitted from sub-award agreement S15192.01 between Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of Granada, as part of the USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028 to Susan J. Brown (KSU), “Developing an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Disease” (2015–2020)

Observing the devastating coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) inside the coffee berry using microcomputed tomography

The coffee berry borer is the most devastating insect pest of coffee throughout the world. The insect spends most of its life cycle inside the coffee berry, which makes it quite difficult to observe its behaviour. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to observe all developmental stages of the coffee berry borer inside coffee berries (Coffea canephora). An interesting oviposition pattern involving a sequential placement of eggs starting in the periphery of the seed and moving inwards was observed. Micro-CT should be useful in elucidating unknown life history aspects of other seed-feeding bark beetles as well as of bark and ambrosia beetles in general

Ametropia detection using a novel, compact wavefront autorefractor

Introduction: Despite the well-known reproducibility issues of subjective refraction, most studies evaluating autorefractors compared differences between the device and subjective refraction. This work evaluated the performance of a novel handheld Hartmann–Shack-based autorefractor using an alternative protocol, which considered the inherent variability of subjective refraction. Methods: Participants underwent an initial measurement with a desktop autorefractor, two subjective refractions (SR1 and SR2) and a final measurement with the QuickSee Free (QSFree) portable autorefractor. Autorefractor performance was evaluated by comparing the differences between the QSFree and each of the subjective refractions with the difference between the subjective refractions (SR1 vs. SR2) using Bland–Altman analysis and percentage of agreement. Results: A total of 75 subjects (53±14years) were enrolled in the study. The average difference in the absolute spherical equivalent (M) between the QSFree and the SR1 and SR2 was ±0.24 and ±0.02D, respectively, that is, very similar or smaller than the SR1 versus SR2 difference (±0.26D). Average differences in astigmatic components were found to be negligible. The results demonstrate that differences between QSFree and both subjective refractions in J0 and J45 were within ±0.50 D for at least 96% of the measurements. The limits of agreement (LOAs) of the differences between QSFree and SR1, as well as QSFree and SR2, were higher than those observed between SR1 and SR2 for M, J0 and J45. Conclusions: A protocol was designed and validated for the evaluation of a refractive device to account for the variability of subjective refraction. This protocol was used to evaluate a novel portable autorefractor and observed a smaller difference between the device and subjective refractions than the difference between the two subjective refraction measurements in terms of mean bias error, although the standard deviation was higherComunidad de Madrid, Grant/Award Number: IND-15478, IND2019/TIC-17116 and IND2020/TIC-17340; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Grant/Award Number: RYC-2016-21125; National Eye Institute, Grant/ Award Number: R44EY025452; Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Grant/ Award Number: NASA NNX16AO69

Micro-CT study of male genitalia and reproductive system of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae)

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, is a major vector of the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and C.L. americanus, which cause Huanglongbing disease (HLB) (aka Citrus greening disease), considered the most serious bacterial disease of citrus trees. As part of a multidisciplinary project on psyllid biology (www.citrusgreening.org), the results presented here concern a detailed anatomical study of the male reproductive system (testes, seminal vesicles, accessory glands, sperm pump, connecting ducts, and aedeagus) using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The study summarizes current knowledge on psyllids male reproductive system and represents significant advances in the knowledge of ACP anatomy.This work was supported by USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028 ªDeveloping an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Diseaseº, 2015-2020

Micro-CTstudy of the functional anatomy of two pest insects species, the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Esta tesis se ha subvencionado con el subproyecto-contrato S15192.01 realizado entre la “Kansas State University (KSU)” y la Universidad de Granada (UGR), como parte del proyecto “Developing an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Disease”. (USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028: 2015-2020) coordinado por Susan J. Brown (KSU), (www.citrusgreening.org).El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral ha sido realizar un estudio microtomográfico detallado (con imágenes 3D de alta resolución y vídeos) de la anatomía externa e interna de dos especies de insectos plaga: el psílido asiático de los cítricos (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908) y la broca del café (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari, 1867), de gran importancia a nivel mundial por los enormes daños y pérdidas económicas que provocan. Adicionalmente, durante la realización del estudio de la actividad de H. hampei en el interior de la cereza del café, encontramos especímenes del gorgojo del grano de café (Araecerus fasciculatus De Geer en 1775) emergiendo de las cerezas del café, este descubrimiento motivó un estudio del mismo y su actividad dentro de la cereza del café, que fue objeto de una publicación adicional al respecto y que se incluye como material adicional.The main objective of this doctoral thesis has been to carry out a detailed microtomographic study (with high resolution 3D images and videos,) of the external and internal anatomy of two species of insect pests: the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908) and the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari, 1867), of great importance worldwide due to the enormous damage and economic losses they cause. Additionally, during the study of H. hampei's activity within the coffee cherry, we found specimens of the coffee bean weevil (Araecerus fasciculatus De Geer in 1775) emerging from coffee cherries. This discovery motivated a study of the bean weevil and its activity within the coffee berry, which was the object of an additional publication on the subject and which is included as additional material.Tesis Univ. Granada.Subproyecto-contrato S15192.01 realizado entre la “Kansas State University (KSU)” y la Universidad de Granada (UGR), como parte del proyecto “Developing an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Disease”. (USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028: 2015-2020

Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography

AbstractThe coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the most economically important insect pest of coffee globally. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to reconstruct the respiratory system of this species for the first time; this is the smallest insect (ca. 2 mm long) for which this has been done to date. Anatomical details of the spiracles and tracheal tubes are described, images presented, and new terms introduced. The total volume and the relationship between tracheal lumen diameter, length and volume are also presented. The total length of the tracheal tubes are seventy times the length of the entire animal. Videos and a 3D model for use with mobile devices are included as supplementary information; these could be useful for future research and for teaching insect anatomy to students and the public in general.</jats:p

Micro-CT to Document the Coffee Bean Weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), Inside Field-Collected Coffee Berries (Coffea canephora)

The coffee bean weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), is a cosmopolitan insect with &gt;100 hosts, and has been reported as a pest of stored coffee. During a study involving the coffee berry borer, we observed coffee bean weevils emerging from field-collected coffee berries and used micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT) scans to observe the insect inside the berry. Two eggs had eclosed inside the berry, resulting in observations of a newly eclosed adult beetle and a 5th instar larva, each feeding on one of the two seeds. This is the first time since 1775, when the insect was first described, that the insect has been observed inside a coffee berry

Publisher Correction: Using micro-computed tomography to reveal the anatomy of adult Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Insecta: Hemiptera, Liviidae) and how it pierces and feeds within a citrus leaf

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.</jats:p