Global InformationGnatocerus cornutus information
| Gnatocerus cornutus | |
|---|---|
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| Male broadhorned flour beetle | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Tenebrionidae |
| Genus: | Gnatocerus |
| Species: | G. cornutus
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| Binomial name | |
| Gnatocerus cornutus Fabricius, 1798
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Gnatocerus cornutus, or the broadhorned flour beetle, is a common species of beetle in the Tenebrionidae family. It is distributed worldwide and is commonly found in warm, tropical regions, preferring grains, yeasts, and flours as its main diet.[1] The total development time is about 47 days.[2] G. cornutus is predominately found in mills as a storage pest and has a wide distribution.[1]
The beetle undergoes four developmental stages, with diet quality and larval density influencing development rates and body size. Nutrition plays a crucial role, with higher-calorie diets leading to enhanced survival and faster development. Genetics also impact traits like mandible length, regulated by specific peptides and transcription factors.
Male-male competition for mates is fierce, with larger weapons indicating better fighting ability and increased reproductive success. Female mate choice varies based on competitive or non-competitive mating situations. Environmental factors like nutritional availability influence offspring sex ratios and reproductive strategies like polyandry. Oviposition patterns and larval development are also affected by environmental conditions, with larval size determining pupation success.
The biology, behavior, and reproductive strategies of G. cornutus are finely tuned to its ecological niche and environmental pressures.
- ^ a b Savyidou, N.; Bell, C. H. (September 1994). "The effect of larval density, photoperiod and food change on the development of Gnatocerus cornutus (F.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". Journal of Stored Products Research. 30 (1): 17. doi:10.1016/0022-474X(94)90268-2.
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