Chemical defense of the ladybird beetle Epilachna paenulata |
| |
Authors: | Soledad Camarano Andrés González Carmen Rossini |
| |
Institution: | (1) Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124 CP, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay |
| |
Abstract: | Summary. The defensive chemistry of the ladybird beetle Epilachna paenulata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was characterized as a mixture of piperidine, homotropane and pyrrolidine alkaloids. Whole body
extracts of adult beetles contain four major alkaloids: 1-(6-Methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-pyridin-2-yl)-propan-2-one; 1-(6-methyl-2-piperidyl)-propan-2-one;
9-aza-1-methyl-bicyclo3.3.1]nonan-3-one and 1- (2′′- hydroxyethyl)-2-(12′-aminotridecyl)-pyrrolidine. Comparative studies
of the defensive chemistry of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults showed both qualitative and quantitative differences in alkaloid
composition among the four life stages, and also within adult age. Laboratory predation bioassays with wolf spiders showed
that the adults are better protected than the larvae and pupae. Field tests showed the adult alkaloid extract to be deterrent
to ants. |
| |
Keywords: | Epilachna paenulata Coleoptera Coccinellidae alkaloids chemical defenses ontogenetic variation |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|