Data from: Nondestructive sampling of insect DNA from defensive secretion

Nondestructive techniques to obtain DNA from organisms can further genetic analyses such as estimating genetic diversity, dispersal, and lifetime fitness, without permanently removing individuals from the population. Possible DNA sources for insects include wing and leg clippings or frass samples. However, these are not feasible approaches for organisms that cannot be removed from their natural environment for long periods or when adverse effects of tissue removal must be avoided. This study evaluated the impacts and efficacy of extracting hemolymph from a defensive secretion to obtain DNA for amplification of microsatellites. A secretion containing hemolymph was obtained from Bolitotherus cornutus (the forked fungus beetle) by perturbation of the defensive gland with a capillary tube. A laboratory experiment demonstrated that the sampling methodology had no impact on mortality, reproductive success, or gland expression. To evaluate the quality of DNA obtained in natural samples, hemolymph was collected from 187 individuals in the field and successfully genotyped at 18 microsatellite loci for 95.7% of samples. These results indicate that hemolymph-rich defensive secretions contain DNA and can be sampled without negative impacts on the health or fitness of individual insects.从生物体中获取DNA的非破坏性技术，可在无需从种群中永久移除个体的前提下，支撑遗传多样性、扩散以及终生适合度评估等各类遗传分析工作。针对昆虫而言，可行的DNA取样来源包括翅、足剪取样本或是虫粪样本。但对于无法长期脱离其自然栖息环境的生物体，或是必须避免组织摘除带来负面影响的研究场景而言，这类方法并不适用。本研究评估了从防御分泌物中提取血淋巴（hemolymph）以获取DNA、进而用于微卫星（microsatellites）扩增的方法的可行性与对生物体的影响。研究人员通过毛细管扰动防御腺的方式，从叉角朽木甲（Bolitotherus cornutus）中获取了含有血淋巴的防御分泌物。室内实验结果表明，该取样方法对甲虫的死亡率、繁殖成功率以及腺体表达均无负面影响。为评估野外采集样本中获取的DNA质量，研究人员从野外187只个体中采集了血淋巴样本，并对其中95.7%的样本成功完成了18个微卫星位点的基因分型。上述结果表明，富含血淋巴的防御分泌物中含有DNA，且该取样方式不会对昆虫个体的健康或适合度造成负面影响。