Özyurt Koçakoğlu Nurcan, Ersoy Doğan Erhan, Arslan Hicret, Candan Selami
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
Protoplasma. 2025 May;262(3):683-693. doi: 10.1007/s00709-024-02021-1. Epub 2025 Jan 11.
Copris are part of the Scarabaeidae family of Coleoptera. Copris are dung beetles or coprophagous beetles. These insects are called tunnelers because they excavate channels in the substrate. They use dead organisms and non-living organic compounds as a nutrient source. By breaking down dead matter, they provide nutrients that are important to the environment and necessary for the survival of other organisms. No studies have yet examined the midgut structure and Malpighian tubules of Copris. Therefore, this study investigated the histo-anatomical structure of the midgut and Malpighian tubules of Copris felschei Reitter, 1892 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in detail. The midgut of C. felschei represents the largest part of the alimentary canal. Muscle layers and a monolayer of cylindrical epithelium surround the midgut wall. A peritrophic membrane envelops food in the midgut lumen, and crystals were observed within the lumen. The surface of the midgut has regenerative crypts and tracheae. The Malpighian tubules are arranged in two pairs and connect proximally between the midgut and hindgut. The Malpighian tubules are composed of a single layer of cuboidal epithelium. Numerous balloon-like tracheae were observed interspersed between the midgut and Malpighian tubules. Light and SEM images of the tracheae reveal a spongy structure with hollow chambers. These findings are anticipated to advance future research and deepen our understanding of the alimentary canal in Coleoptera, particularly within the Scarabaeidae family.
粪金龟属于鞘翅目金龟科。粪金龟又称蜣螂或食粪甲虫。这些昆虫被称为挖掘者，因为它们在基质中挖掘通道。它们以死生物体和非生物有机化合物作为营养来源。通过分解死亡物质，它们提供了对环境重要且对其他生物生存必需的营养物质。目前尚无研究考察粪金龟的中肠结构和马氏管。因此，本研究使用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）详细研究了1892年发现的费氏粪金龟（鞘翅目：金龟科）的中肠和马氏管的组织解剖结构。费氏粪金龟的中肠是消化道最大的部分。中肠壁由肌肉层和单层柱状上皮细胞包围。围食膜包裹着中肠腔内的食物，腔内可见晶体。中肠表面有再生隐窝和气管。马氏管成对排列，近端连接中肠和后肠。马氏管由单层立方上皮细胞组成。在中肠和马氏管之间观察到许多气球状气管散布。气管的光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜图像显示其具有带中空腔室的海绵状结构。这些发现有望推动未来的研究，并加深我们对鞘翅目尤其是金龟科消化道的理解。
