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

Alba-Tercedor, Javier; Alba-Alejandre, Ignacio; Vega, Fernando E.

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-54157-3

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Published: 28 November 2019

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

Javier Alba-Tercedor¹,
Ignacio Alba-Alejandre¹ &
Fernando E. Vega²

Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 17753 (2019) Cite this article

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Abstract

The 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.

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Introduction

Insects are one of the most successful lineages of animals on Earth, especially in terrestrial environments. They developed together (but independently) with myriapods and arachnids and have a unique respiratory system for gas exchange that is formed by a complex network of tubes (tracheae), branching progressively to form increasingly narrow tubes that can supply every cell in every organ; those narrower than 1 µm in diameter are known as tracheoles. Structurally, the tracheal respiratory system is an aero-vascular system that is connected to the outside world by external openings known as spiracles. Gas exchange occurs passively by diffusion, although greater ventilation can be achieved by flexing of the musculature to compress air-sacs (dilated tracheal tubes) and even the tracheal trunks themselves^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19}. These tubes were first observed and drawn in the 17^th century by the Italian anatomist Marcello Malpighi in his description of silk worm anatomy^20,21.

To enable the visualization of the tracheal tubular system, different media have been used to clear, stain, and fix specimens. Many papers report injection of the tracheal tubes with glycerol, sudan II in oil, prussian blue, trypan blue, carmine in metagelatin, osmium tetroxide vapour, silver, olive oil in petroleum, and many others. Some of these compounds require the soft tissues to subsequently be dissolved by using a special apparatus, as described by Wigglesworth²².

The classical methodologies used to study the tracheal system require labour-intensive dissection and highly skilled microscopic preparations. Furthermore, the specimens are destroyed in the process. In fact, recently, intact live specimens, or insect body parts, have been placed directly into lactic acid which progressively cleared the tracheal systems until the structures could be visualised; previous methods resulted in almost totally transparent specimens that were not suitable for subsequent observations²³.

Studies on the tracheal systems of various insects published in the early-mid 20^th century have been covered in several reviews^1,2,15,17,18. Detailed studies on the structure and typologies of insect spiracles have also been published^{4,8,15,16,17,24,25,26,27}, and recently the first thoracic spiracle of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari); Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) was described²⁸. A few studies on the coleopteran tracheal system have been conducted using classical methods (i.e., staining and/or dissection)^16,24,29,30. X-ray techniques were valuable in demonstrating forced respiration in beetles by compressive movements of the tracheal tubes^3,7,31, and also in quantifying aspects of tracheal hypermetry in grasshoppers³². Most recently, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has become the most important non-destructive technique useful in revealing important anatomical insights on the complex anatomy of tracheal tubular systems in Diptera^10,33, Orthoptera^34,35, Coleoptera^9,36,37 and non-insect arthropods such as camel spiders (Solifugae)³⁸.

The coffee berry borer is the most devastating insect pest of coffee globally and poses a threat to coffee production due to its cryptic life habit inside the coffee berry, which makes it difficult to manage³⁹. We have used modern micro-CT techniques to study this species and revealed various aspects of its biology inside coffee berries⁴⁰, and the internal anatomy in adults⁴¹. In this paper, we present results from a detailed anatomical study of the tubular respiratory system of the coffee berry borer, including its spiracles. The majority of the study relies on micro-CT although additional light microscopic images are included.

Results

The external appearance of an adult female coffee berry borer with details of the spiracles obtained using light microscopy is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As a result of the transparency achieved, in lateral view it is possible to observe a detail of the proventriculus and the mesothoracic spiracle (MsSP; Fig. 1) with two spiracular openings (SpO), and a detail of the fifth abdominal spiracle (Fig. 1Ab) in which dilatations of the lumina of the tracheal tubes can be distinguished as they converge on the spiracle. A lateral view of the thorax (hind part of the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax), abdomen, location of the metathoracic (MtSp) and abdominal spiracles, abdominal tergites (t1–t7) and sternites (s1–s5) are shown in Fig. 1B. Details of the five abdominal spiracles (ASp1–ASp5) in their natural position prior to mounting are visible in Fig. 1C, including the spiracle opening (SpO), atrium (Atr), and the elastic bar of the closing apparatus (ClA).

Details of the spiracles, including slide-mounted dorsal and ventral segments are shown in Fig. 2. The mesothoracic spiracle in apical view (focused internally with the peritreme) and the two external spiracular openings can be seen in Fig. 2Aa, while the apically focused anterior spiracular opening, and the anterior and posterior lips of the atrium are visible in Fig. 2Ab. The lateral view can be seen in Fig. 2Ac. The spiracular openings and the lips are densely covered with setae (Fig. 2Ab,c). Figure 2B shows the abdominal spiracles, particularly the spiracular openings (SpO), the peritreme (Pe), and the elastic bar of the closing apparatus (ClA). The second abdominal spiracle is shown in detail in an externally focused image of the spiracular opening (SpO) and the peritreme (Pe) sclerite that surrounds it (Fig. 2Ba). The images of the third, fourth, and fifth abdominal spiracles (ASp3-ASp5; Fig. 2B) are internally focused to see the elastic bar of the closing apparatus (ClA). Figure 2C shows the dorsum of a female coffee berry borer with the location of a mesothoracic spiracle (MsSp), metathoracic spiracle (MtSp), the mesonotum (MsN), metanotum (MtN), seven tergites (t1-t7), and five abdominal spiracles (ASp1-ASp5). Figure 2D presents a ventral view with the two prothoracic spiracles (PtSp), mesosternum (MsS), metasternum (MtS), and five sternites (S1-S5).

Figures 3 and 4 are micro-CT volume-rendered images showing the location and structural details of the thoracic spiracles in relation to the tracheal system. Figure 5 is a general overview of the tracheal system within the body and its relationship with the main internal anatomical structures.

Figures 6–9 show the complexity of the tubular tracheal respiratory system, viewed from different perspectives. It is important to note that many different, non-repeated angles were chosen in order to observe the positioning of the entire system. The left and right (Fig. 6B) halves are visible in sagittal cuts (Fig. 6), complemented by a left-lateral and a left dorso-ventral view (Fig. 7), and left-lateral, dorsal, and ventral views in Fig. 8. Figure 9 shows close-up views of the tracheal tubes (from the head to the anterior part of the mesothorax) in a left-frontal view (Fig. 9A) and a frontal view (Fig. 9B, and a close-up detail in Fig. 9C). A fronto-posterior view shows the elliptically shaped lumina of the tracheal trunks (Fig. 9D). The left half of a latero-frontal view of the posterior prothorax, mesothorax and anterior metathorax can be seen in Fig. 9E.

The morphological terminology used is summarized in Table 1 and where applicable we cite references that have used each term previously, other terms used with references, and new terms that we have introduced.

Table 1 List of abbreviations used in the paper. The references indicate studies that have previously used the same term. Alternative terms used for the same structure are listed with references, and new terms introduced in this study are noted.

Full size table

Videos are included as Supplementary information (Supplementary Videos S1–S4) and show 3D volume-rendered animations with details of: the complex web of tracheal tubes (Supplementary Videos S1–S3); relationships with the internal anatomy (Supplementary Video S1); the tracheal tubes and their connections to the spiracles (Supplementary Video S3); and a detail of the metathoracic spiracle and the connecting tracheal tubes (Supplementary Video S4). The lumina of the tracheae are shown in Figs. 6–9 and in Supplementary Videos S1–S3, with a colour gradation code, in accordance with their actual lumen diameter range (1.99–21.93 µm).

Lumen size distribution ranges of the tracheal tubes and corresponding percentage volume capacities are shown in Fig. 10. The total volume capacity and total length of tubes are also indicated.

A vxm file with a model of the tracheal system and teguments for use in mobile devices is included as Supplementary 3D model S5.

Organization of the respiratory spiracles

The tracheal respiratory system opens externally via seven pairs of spiracles (two thoracic [meso- and metathoracic] and five abdominal); these were clearly visible in both light microscopy slide preparations and in micro-CT reconstructed images. The spiracular external openings connect with atrial cavities and tracheal tubes. The mesothoracic spiracles (MsSp) are situated in a latero-ventral position in the pleural membranous zone, anterior to the mesothorax (Figs. 1A,B, 2D, 3A, 5A, 6, 7A, 8, 9A,B,E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3).

The mesothoracic spiracles protrude and each have two elongated spiracular openings: an anterior opening (SpOa) and a posterior opening (SpOp). The tegument extends to form an anterior lip (AlA) and a posterior lip (PlA). Inside each spiracular opening there is a small cavity called the first atrium (Atr1); this is connected to a second atrial cavity (Atr2) through a cribellated plate of tegument, with two longitudinal openings, several pores, and the first filter (Fi1). The second atrium is connected to a third small atrial cavity (Atr3) through another cribellated plate, housing a second filter (Fi2) (Figs. 2A, 3B and 4).

The methathoracic spiracle (MtSp) are located on the pleura in a latero-dorsal position, beneath the elytra (Figs. 1B, 2C, 3A,H, 5A, 6–8 and 9E, Supplementary Video S4). Each methathoracic spiracle (MtSp) has a small spiracular opening connected to the dome-shaped first atrial cavity (Atr1), through a cribellated curved plate, and with a filter (Fi). The first atrial cavity is connected to a second atrial cavity (Atr2) (Fig. 3C–H; Supplementary Video S4).

The abdominal spiracles (ASp) are laterally located on the fore zone of the uniform membranous pleural region (without any epimeral/episternal differentiation) (Figs. 1B,C, 2C, 5A and 6–8; Supplementary Videos S1–S3).

The abdominal spiracles are simpler structures than the thoracic ones, each with a single spiracular opening surrounded by a circular peritreme sclerite (Pe), opening into a barrel-shaped atrial cavity at the bottom of which is a closing apparatus (ClA) that forms a U-shape elastic bar (flexible rod) that constrains the connection with the tracheae (Figs. 1C, 2B and 3I).

Organization of the tracheal tubes

Three tracheal trunks arise from each mesothoracic spiracle: the latero-ventral prothoracic (LVPt), ventral prothoracic (VPt) and dorsal prothoracic trunks (DPt) (Figs. 3A,B, 4A,E–G, 5–8 and 9A,B,E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3). Each latero-ventral prothoracic trunk is connected through a descendent branch to the prothoracic leg trunk (PtLt) which supplies the prothoracic leg (Figs. 3A, 6–8 and 9A,B,E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5). Descendent branches on both sides are interconnected by a ventral prothoracic commissure (VPC) before supplying the prothoracic legs (Figs. 5, 8B,C and 9D; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The ventral prothoracic trunks run into the head, joining to form the ventral cephalic trunk (VCt). A thin branch is derived from each ventral prothoracic trunk; each branch joins to supply the ventral median cephalic branch (VMCb) which runs ventrally into the head (Figs. 3A, 5–8; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The dorsal prothoracic trunks are connected by a dorsal cephalic commissure (DCC) (Figs. 8 and 9A–C; Supplementary Video S1; Supplementary 3D model S5). From each side of the dorsal cephalic commissure two thin tracheae emerge, the dorso-median cephalic tracheae (DMCt) (Fig. 9C; Supplementary Video S1; Supplementary 3D model S5), which run parallel and very close to each other in a median-dorsal position, diverging only at the tip (Figs. 3A, 5, 6B, 7, 8 and 9A–C; Supplementary Videos S1 and S2; Supplementary 3D model S5). The dorsal prothoracic trunks run forward into the head via the dorsal cephalic trunks (DCt). The posterior prothoracic branch (PPb) and the anterior prothoracic twisted branch (APb) are derived dorsally from the dorsal prothoracic trunk (Figs. 3A, 6–8 and 9A,B,D; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The dorsal (DMst), lateral (LMst) and ventral (VMst) mesothoracic trunks are derived backwards from the dorsal prothoracic trunk, the ventral prothoracic trunk, and anteriorly and close to the mesothoracic spiracles, respectively (Figs. 3A, 5–8 and 9A,B,E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5). The arc-shaped mesothoracic trunk (AMst) is derived upwards and backwards from the ventral mesothoracic trunk, close to the mesothoracic spiracle. The arc-shaped mesothoracic trunk meets the metathoracic spiracles and from its dorsal arc several branches emerge dorsally (Figs. 3A, 5–7, 8A and 9E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3); one of these branches emerge dorsally and backwards to supply the elytra (Fig. 5B,C). A descendent branch supplying the mesothoracic leg trunk is derived from each ventral mesothoracic trunk (MsLt) (Figs. 3A, 6, 7, 8A and 9E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

In the metathorax the lateral mesothoracic trunk (LMst) and the latero-ventral metathoracic trunk (LVMtt) (which runs laterally from the spiracle towards the ventral section, connecting with the ventral trunk) converge with the metathoracic spiracle, through a short lateral tube (Figs. 3D,H and 6–8; Supplementary Videos S1–S4). There are three main longitudinal tracheal trunks: the dorsal metathoracic trunk (DMtt), derived from the dorsal mesothoracic trunk (DMst); the lateral metathoracic trunk (LMtt); and the ventral metathoracic trunk (VMtt), derived from the latero-ventral metathoracic trunk (LVMtt). A branch that bifurcates to supply the hindwings is derived dorsally and backwards from the dorsal metathoracic trunks (Fig. 5B,C). A descendent branch that supplies the metathoracic leg trunk (MtLt) is derived from the lateral metathoracic trunk (Figs. 3A,F–G,I, 5B, 6–8 and 9E; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5). The dorsal metathoracic trunks are divided into a lateral (DMtt-1) and a medial (DMtt-2) parallelised branches (Figs. 7B and 8B; Supplementary Videos S1–S3, Supplementary 3D model S5).

Ventrally, in the mesothorax, the left and right ventral mesothoracic trunks (VMst) meet medially to form a large ventral mesothoracic commissure connecting both sides (VMsC); a similar connection exists in the metathorax, where the latero-ventral metathoracic trunks (LVMtt) converge medially to form a ventral metathoracic commissure (VMtC). Both commissures are medially interconnected by a ventral longitudinal trachea (Fig. 8B,C; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The dorsal metathoracic branches (DMtt-1, DMtt-2) converge posteriorly with the lateral metathoracic trunk (LMtt), the ventral metathoracic trunk (VMtt) and the abdominal latero-ventral trunk (ALVt) before connecting with the first abdominal spiracle (ASp1) (Figs. 6–8; Supplementary Videos S1 and S2; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The abdominal spiracles are connected by three longitudinal tracheal tubes, the latero-abdominal tracheae (LAt). The ones connecting the first (ASp1) and second (ASp2) spiracles are thicker, and interconnected dorso-ventrally with the abdominal latero-ventral trunks (ALVt). Both sides are connected by a double ventral transversal abdominal commissure (VAC) at the level of the fourth (ASp4) and fifth (ASp5) spiracles. Two parallel genital tracheae (Gt) are derived from the fifth abdominal spiracle (Figs. 1B, 3I, 5B and 6–8; Supplementary Videos S1 and S2; Supplementary 3D model S5).

Two parallel tracheae, the long abdominal latero-median tracheae (LALMt), are derived forwards from the right fourth abdominal spiracle; they ascend dorsally at the level of the first abdominal spiracle, bend backwards, and progressively curve to the left to occupy a median position (Figs. 3I, 6B, 7 and 8; Supplementary Videos S1 and S2; Supplementary 3D model S5).

Discussion

The external openings of the spiracles can represent a risk of water loss and the entry of particulate matter, pathogens, and/or parasites. However, insects have developed hairs, sieve filters and closing mechanisms (such as lips or valves) to minimise these issues^1,2,6,15,42. Our results show the presence of protective mechanisms in all the spiracles, including filtering sieve plates and the closing apparatus.

Tubular tracheal systems in insects are formed during embryogenesis as a series of segmental invaginations of the integument. Up to three thoracic and nine abdominal pairs of spiracles may exist in embryos, though this number is always reduced prior to hatching; further reductions may occur in endopterygotes during metamorphosis (resulting in a maximum of two thoracic and eight abdominal pairs, in adults). The spiracles of the prothorax disappear during development and those of the mesothorax migrate forward to an antero-lateral position on the prothorax^{1,2,4,8,15,17,18}. Thus, even when they are originally ‘mesothoracic’ spiracles, due to the acquired new anatomical location, actually they appear situated in a prothoracic position, as shown in Fig. 5A.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, Fuchs⁴³ considered the number of abdominal spiracles as a taxonomical characteristic that varied according to sex. However, in the coffee berry borer we observe that both sexes have the same number of abdominal spiracles.

To assist in ventilation, many insects have air sacs (dilations of the tracheal tubes) that force ventilation when they are compressed by movement of the surrounding muscles^{1,4,6,8,10,12,13,14,15,16,17,24,25,44}. However, some coleopteran species have reduced or no air-sacs at all^9,29,31. Our study shows that the coffee berry borer has very small air sacs in the abdominal lateral trunks, close to the spiracles; these were particularly visible close to the third and fifth abdominal spiracles, both with light microscopy (Fig. 1Ab) and micro-CT rendered images of the tracheal lumina, where they appear as small dilations close to these abdominal spiracles (Figs. 6–8).

It has also been shown that compression of the pronotal main tracheal trunks (dorsal and ventral prothoracic trunks) forces ventilation and exchange of gases in the tracheal tubular system^3,7. Cross-sections of these compressible trunks show elliptic-shaped lumina to make them easily collapsible^1,8,18,24 as seen in Fig. 9D. Hence, due to their proximity, the mesothoracic spiracles must have an important functional role in tracheal ventilation, with large volumes of gases passing through them. In fact, the tracheal tubes arising anteriorly to the mesothoracic spiracles supply the prothoracic and proventricular muscles and the forelegs, and via cephalic derivations they also supply the brain, the subesophageal ganglion, and the mouthparts (Fig. 5B).

Confirming their key functional importance, the mesothoracic spiracles are by far the most complex, with three consecutive filter plates and three atrial cavities. Moreover, the external openings have two mobile lips, one anterior and another posterior, to close the anterior and posterior external spiracular openings, respectively (Fig. 4). Spiracles situated underneath the elytra (mesothoracic and abdominal) are more protected; we did not observe any filters in the abdominal spiracles (Figs. 1C, 2B and 3I). In contrast, the metathoracic spiracles, which are more exposed because the metathorax moves in relation to the abdomen, showed a very small spiracular opening (Fig. 3H) and a filter plate (Fig. 3C–H). Tracheal tubes in the meso- and metathorax surround and supply the anterior midgut, and the middle and hind legs. Extensions from the ventral pro- and mesothoracic commissures, together with anterior prolongations of the meso- and metathoracic commissures, supply the complex ganglion (resulting from the fusion of the thoracic and abdominal ganglions¹) (Fig. 5B; Supplementary Video S1; Supplementary 3D model S5).

The U-shaped bar of the closing apparatus of the abdominal spiracles, first described by Snodgrass¹, and observed by many authors^2,4,8,43, are almost identical to those described for the whirligig beetle Dineutes indicus (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)⁷. Muscles operating the closing apparatus of the abdominal spiracles have been observed previously^2,4,8,16, as well as the muscles operating the closing apparatus of the mesothoracic spiracle in the coffee berry borer²⁸. The latter was not visible in Fig. 2 because the specimen had been treated with KOH, nor were they observed in micro-CT rendered images.

The general organisation of the tracheal system in the coffee berry borer is similar to that described previously for others coleopteran species, such as two tenebrionids, the flour beetle (Tribolium anaphe)²⁹ and the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor)¹⁷. Thus, the dorsal cephalic commissure is clearly visible in the coffee berry borer (Figs. 7B, 8 and 9A–C) but the ventral cephalic commissure was not visible. Transversal fine tubes, close to each other, were observed in the positions where other species have the ventral commissure, but when observed in detail they did not join to form a continuous commissure (Fig. 9B). Moreover, the long abdominal latero-median trachea (LALMt; also termed the ‘long median trachea’), which is normally located on the left side of the animal²⁹, was on the right side in the coffee berry borer. This may be because the authors²⁹ drew it from a microscope view and thereafter the position was inverted as a specular image, or the position in that species is different to what we observed in the coffee berry borer. Furthermore, in T. anaphe the long abdominal latero-median trachea appears as a single trachea when running anteriorly and is divided into six branches when it runs posteriorly; in the coffee berry borer it appears as two tracheal tubes along its entire length (Figs. 6B, 7 and 8; Supplementary Video S4; Supplementary 3D model S5).

Classically the tracheal system is considered to consist of two dorsal longitudinal trunks, two lateral trunks, and two ventral trunks, connected by transversal tubes^{2,4,6,8,12,15,17,18}. In the coffee berry borer, it is, more or less, similar to this in the head and thorax. On each side of the abdomen there are three longitudinal latero-abdominal tracheae (LAt) that at first sight, could be interpreted as the dorsal, lateral, and ventral trunks described classically. In fact, previous studies have shown that the dorsal trunks should run along the dorsal vessel (heart) but, in the coffee berry borer, the dorsal latero-abdominal tracheae are situated far away from the dorsal vessel. We observed that the long abdominal latero-median tracheae (LALMt) followed the posterior-midgut and gonads when running forward, while passing over the hindgut (rectum) just below the dorsal vessel when running backwards (Fig. 5B)⁴¹. Therefore, the long abdominal latero-median tracheae play an important role in supplying the digestive tract, gonads and heart in coffee berry borer. This would explain the presence of small air sacs close to the spiracles for increasing abdominal ventilation. On both sides, the abdominal tracheal system runs posteriorly as two parallel tracheal tubes (genital tracheae); in females these extend to the reproductive system, supplying the ovipositor musculature.

Although many of the anatomical details have been observed and/or described and named in other insect species, we are the first to describe and name new anatomical details. Of note, despite a recent study renaming the ventral abdominal commissures as abdominal ventral commissures¹⁷, this terms has been used previously by other authors in different insect species^1,24,29,45 (Table 1).

As identified by Iwan et al.³⁶, using the same microtomography instrument as us, the small voxel size achieved permits visualization of tracheoles. However, as tracheoles are filled with tracheolar fluid, through which interchange of gases occurs^2,4,8,46, the methodology is unable to reconstruct the tubes in the same way as gas-filled tube cavities can be reconstructed. In fact, very fine tracheal tubes (up to 1.99 µm diam.) were reconstructed in the coffee berry borer, but nothing narrower could be visualized. Wigglesworth⁴⁶ experienced the same problem when studying the tracheal system of a dragonfly (Aeschna) under light microscopy. He observed that when the tracheoles were filled with fluid they were not visible, but by eliminating the tracheolar fluid using a hypertonic solution of potassium lactate, the problem could be solved. Unfortunately, potassium lactate would not solve the problem because it would create other non-tracheolar empty spaces introducing noise into reconstructions.

In recent micro-CT studies of the mealworm beetle tracheal system^9,36 the minimum diameter of tracheal tubes that could be reconstructed was 25 µm, which is significantly greater than the smallest lumina we reconstructed (1.99 µm), and also greater that the largest lumina we reconstructed (21.92 µm) in the coffee berry borer, which is ten times smaller. However, the largest tracheal tubes of the mealworm beetle have approximately 20 times larger diameters (400 µm) than those of the coffee berry borer, the largest of which are the dorsal and ventral prothoracic trunks that are collapsible to facilitate ventilation (Fig. 8D). Avoiding large diameter tubes could be an adaptation in such a small insect as the coffee berry borer. In fact, to our knowledge, no collapsible tracheae have been reported in mealworm beetles in any studies of its tracheal system^9,31.

Most of the tracheae we observed have very narrow lumina: the narrowest tubes (lumen diameter range:1.99–6 µm) accounted for more than 75.5% of the total length of tubes and 37.8% of the total volume; all tubes with lumina ≤9.97 µm accounted for 96.6% of the total length and 79.1% of total tracheal volume capacity. A similar relationship between tracheal diameter and its occurrence as a proportion of the entire tracheal system has been reported for the mealworm beetle, although the frequency of occurrence decreases as the diameter increased, and the diameter only decreases from 200 to 400 µm¹⁷. However, we observed a much steeper slope for this relationship (Fig. 10).

The total estimated length of the tracheal tubes was 122.23 mm. As the studied female was ca.1.8 mm in length, this means that the tracheal tubes were 70 times the total length of the body. If we transpose this to a human scale, then a 175 cm long insect (the average height for American males⁴⁷) would have 123 m of tracheal tubes (longer than a football or soccer field).

In conclusion, we have confirmed that the use of micro-CT techniques to reconstruct and study the tracheal tubular system of insects is an extraordinarily useful and reliable technique; the only limitation was the inability to reconstruct the smallest tubes (<1.99 µm). Even though the technique is time consuming (during scanning but especially during reconstruction and visualisation), once the software parameter for a particular species have been determined and verified, it is possible to create task list procedures that may speed up the process³⁶.

This is the first complete study on the tracheal system of the coffee berry borer, the smallest insect to be studied so far using micro-CT. Obtaining similar results using classical dissection methods would have been very difficult, if not impossible. Furthermore, micro-CT allowed to reconstruct the actual position and shape of the anatomical structures without any displacement and/or deformation due to manipulation. It has permitted us to measure, quantify and visualise structures from any perspective. Moreover, videos and a 3D model can be displayed on mobile devices which be used in future research, as well as for teaching insect anatomy to students and the public in general.

Methods

Insects

For a previous paper in which we first observed the coffee berry borer inside the coffee berry⁴⁰, J.A.T. collected coffee berries (Coffea canephora Pierre ex. A. Froehner; Rubiaceae) at a coffee plantation in Vietnam (Me Linh Coffee Garden; 11°53′57.39″N, 108°20′51.16″E; 1043 m.a.s.l.). From this collection, an adult female emerged and was used for the micro-CT study.

Micro-CT scans

The insect was killed by keeping it for 30 min inside a closed plastic container with a piece of cotton impregnated with a few drops of ethyl acetate. It was then glued, using cyanoacrylate, to the tip of a nylon fishing line 200 μm in diameter, as previously described⁴⁸, and immediately scanned using a Bruker SkyScan 1172 microtomograph (Bruker-micro CT, Kontich, Belgium) with a Hamamatsu L702 X-ray source and a Ximea 11 megapixels camera. The setting parameters were as follows: voltage = 45 kV; current = 45 µA; isotropic voxel size = 1 µm; image rotation step = 0.3°; 360° of rotation scan with no filter. This resulted in a scan duration of 2 h:11 min:39 s, and 1202 X-ray images. The specimen was air-dried, stored and 14 months later it was scanned again to compare the dry preserved internal anatomical structures of the tracheal system (Supplementary Video S4) with the original images from ‘fresh’ material. For this latter scan the setting parameters were the same as the first scan except that it was performed with an 180° rotation scan, resulting in a scan duration of 1 h:10 min:33 s, and 642 X-ray images.

Image reconstruction

The most recent versions of the Bruker Micro-CT’s Skyscan software (NRecon, DataViewer, CTAnalyser) were used for primary reconstructions and the ‘cleaning’ process to obtain datasets on ‘slices’ through the insect as described previously⁴⁸. Amira’s software, v. 6.7.0 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA)^49,50 (with the built-in “volrenRed.col” colour filter) was used to obtain volume-rendered images (Figs. 3–5A and 9D; Supplementary Video S4).

To achieve a clean image dataset for the tracheal tubes we modified an existing methodology³⁶. Briefly, it consisted of scanning the insect immediately after killing it. In insects, the haemolymph fills the internal cavities and it has a similar transparency to the internal structures when viewed by X-ray. Thereafter, whereas the reconstructed image slices hardly showed the internal structures, the empty spaces that were full of gas (such as the interior of the tracheal tubes) were clearly visible. Thus, the process allowed us to reconstruct these spaces by inverting images from negative to positive and cleaning away the superfluous non-tracheal spaces, to obtain images that contained only the lumen of the tracheae (as described step-by-step in the Supplementary Methods). During the process, the internal spaces in the elytra and hindwing venations were eliminated to facilitate visualisation.

Colour-coded images were created using the 3D analysis plug-in in the CTAnalyser’s customised processing tab and saved to determine structure thickness (or separation) as done previously⁵¹ and as described in a Bruker microCT method note⁵². We used CTvox (Bruker’ micro-CT’s Skyscan software) to obtain images for Fig. 5B,C and the final rendered images, videos and 3D model for mobile devices, with colour code representations of the lumen diameter of the tracheae (Figs. 6–9; Supplementary Videos S1–S3; Supplementary 3D model S5).

Reconstructed images of the two scans (earlier for the tracheal tubular system, and months later for the internal structures) were co-registered with the software DataViewer following the procedure described in a Bruker microCT method note⁵³.

By running the 3D analysis plug-in (in the customised processing tab) of the CTAnalyser software, we could calculate the total volume of the tracheal tubes, as well the ranges according to the lumen diameter (or thickness). Using extrapolation we considered the tracheal tubes as cylinders and from the total calculated volume of each range and thickness it was possible to estimate their length (length = volume/(π(1/2 thicknes)²); adding the calculated lengths for each range we could estimate the total length of all the tracheal tubes in the system (Fig. 10).

Light microscopy study

To study the position and structure of spiracles under light microscopy, a female adult was progressively cleared by submerging it in a 10% KOH water dilution at room temperature. We examined and photographed the coffee berry borer after immersion for 24 h (Fig. 1A) and 48 h (Fig. 1B). Immediately after that, the insect was dissected, and the dorsal (Fig. 2C) and ventral (Fig. 2D) parts of the thorax and abdomen were dissected and mounted on a slide in modified Hoyer’s liquid media⁵⁴. The position and structure of the spiracles in Figs. 1 and 2 were obtained using a Samsung Note 8 smartphone connected to the ocular of a Motic SMZ-168 stereo zoom microscope (Fig. 1A [except a], 1B) and to an Olympus CH-2 binocular microscope (Figs. 1Aa,C and 2).

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the course of the study are available from J.A.T. upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the staff at Bruker Micro-CT for their advice and effectiveness, and for their constant improvements to the software, including new options we requested. JAT is especially indebted to A. Sasov, S. Boons, X. Liu, V. Kharitonov, P. Salmon, K. Laperre, and W. De Boever for providing suggestions and answers to queries. Also, thanks to K. Tinoco, C. Shaunte, and J.-L. Garnier from Thermo Fisher Scientific for their help with the Amira software, and to A. Sánchez-Erostegui. We thank the personnel at the Me Linh Coffee Garden coffee plantation in Vietnam for their hospitality during J.A.T.’s visit. This paper benefitted from the sub-award agreement S15192.01 between Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of Granada, as part of a USDA-NIFA Award 2014-70016-23028 to S.J. Brown (KSU), “Developing an Infrastructure and Product Test Pipeline to Deliver Novel Therapies for Citrus Greening Disease” (2015–2020).

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Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, 18071, Granada, Spain
Javier Alba-Tercedor & Ignacio Alba-Alejandre
Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
Fernando E. Vega

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Javier Alba-Tercedor
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Ignacio Alba-Alejandre
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Contributions

J.A.T. collected the coffee samples. J.A.T., I.A.A. and F.E.V., conceived and designed the study. J.A.T. and I.A.A. conducted the microtomographic study and recorded the images and videos. J.A.T., I.A.A. and F.E.V., interpreted the results and wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Javier Alba-Tercedor or Fernando E. Vega.

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Alba-Tercedor, J., Alba-Alejandre, I. & Vega, F.E. Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography. Sci Rep 9, 17753 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54157-3

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Received: 08 August 2019
Accepted: 30 October 2019
Published: 28 November 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54157-3

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