| Title |
Convergent evolution in the antennae of a cerambycid beetle, Onychocerus albitarsis, and the sting of a scorpion
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
The Science of Nature, November 2007
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00114-007-0316-1 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Amy Berkov, Nelson Rodríguez, Pedro Centeno |
| Abstract |
Venom-injecting structures have arisen independently in unrelated arthropods including scorpions, spiders, centipedes, larval owlflies and antlions, and Hymenoptera (wasps, ants, and bees). Most arthropods use venom primarily as an offensive weapon to subdue prey, and only secondarily in defense against enemies. Venom is injected by biting with fangs or stinging with a specialized hypodermic structure used exclusively for the delivery of venom (usually modified terminal abdominal segments). A true sting apparatus, previously known only in scorpions and aculeate wasps, is now known in a third group. We here report the first known case of a cerambycid beetle using its antennae to inject a secretion that causes cutaneous and subcutaneous inflammation in humans. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the terminal antennal segment of Onychocerus albitarsis (Pascoe) has two pores opening into channels leading to the tip through which the secretion is delivered. This is a novel case of convergent evolution: The delivery system is almost identical to that found in the stinger of a deadly buthid scorpion. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 25 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4 | 16% |
| United Kingdom | 3 | 12% |
| Japan | 2 | 8% |
| Netherlands | 2 | 8% |
| Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 1 | 4% |
| Brazil | 1 | 4% |
| Australia | 1 | 4% |
| Spain | 1 | 4% |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 4% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown | 9 | 36% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 21 | 84% |
| Scientists | 3 | 12% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 97 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2 | 2% |
| Brazil | 1 | 1% |
| Australia | 1 | 1% |
| Japan | 1 | 1% |
| United States | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown | 91 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 20 | 21% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 19 | 20% |
| Student > Master | 11 | 11% |
| Student > Bachelor | 8 | 8% |
| Professor > Associate Professor | 8 | 8% |
| Other | 19 | 20% |
| Unknown | 12 | 12% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 66 | 68% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 6% |
| Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 2 | 2% |
| Chemistry | 2 | 2% |
| Environmental Science | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 5 | 5% |
| Unknown | 15 | 15% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 38. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 22 September 2023.
All research outputs
#1,024,758
of 24,492,652 outputs
Outputs from The Science of Nature
#147
of 2,231 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#1,864
of 79,467 outputs
Outputs of similar age from The Science of Nature
#3
of 5 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,492,652 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 95th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,231 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 13.5. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 93% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 79,467 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 97% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 5 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has scored higher than 2 of them.