Differentiating morphologically similar cerambycid beetle species by molecular and chemical analyses

The Cerambycidae, the longhorn beetles, is among the largest insect families with at least 35,000 described species. In their native ranges, cerambycids may provide important ecosystem services by initiating the breakdown of dying and dead tissues of woody plants, recycling the nutrients into forest ecosystems. However, some species are also pests due to their ability to damage wood or transmit plant diseases. As larvae of most cerambycid species are long-lived and can develop within lumber, palettes, dunnage, and other wooden products, they are also readily transported to new countries by international commerce, making them high-risk exotic species. A problem in managing some cerambycid pests is the difficulty discriminating between morphologically similar congeners. This study tests the hypothesis that cuticular hydrocarbon profiling provides an accurate means of identification. The study species were the morphologically similar congeners Graphisurus despectus (LeConte) and G. fasciatus (Degeer) (subfamily Lamiinae: tribe Acanthocinini) that are native to the eastern US. Forty-five adult beetles were collected from field sites in east-central Illinois, their hydrocarbons were extracted, and profiles were characterized and compared to identify consistent and diagnostic components. The beetles also were subjected to DNA sequencing to confirm the species status of the specimens. This study supported the hypothesis that hydrocarbon profiling is an efficient, cost-effective alternative to molecular methods for distinguishing between morphologically similar species of cerambycids, with potential applications in monitoring endangered species and managing pest species.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Udayakumar, Anupama

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hanks, Lawrence M.
• Katz, Aron D
• Suarez, Andrew V
• Ngumbi, Esther N.

• Molecular
• Chemical
• Hydrocarbon
• Barcoding
• Coi
• Cerambycid
• Long-horned Beetles
• Beetles
• Pest Management

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Anupama Udayakumar

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130212

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F130212