Chemical Composition and Taxonomic Significance of Defensive Secretions of Some Australian Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera)

Abstract

The defensive secretions of 88 species of Australian Tenebrionidae from 63 genera and 23 tribes have been analysed. These secretions comprise mainly quinones with I-alkenes and, in some cases, smaller quantities of other components. In general, the results support the conclusion from overseas studies that defensive chemistry in this family has been plastic and that individual components are seldom likely to prove characteristic for particular taxa. However, limited correlations between defensive chemistry and taxonomy are apparent and their bearing on some recent changes in higher classification of the Australian fauna is discussed.

Defensive Agents of Blaps femoralis, a Traditional Mongolian Medicinal Insect

“…2 B) was analyzed. However it showed slightly lower content of those compounds found very largely in taxa and supporting the conclusion from previous [7] workers that the chemical composition of defensive secretion is less valuable in Tenebrionid beetles. The compositions of the defensive secretion of male and female insects were identical (data not included).…”

“…Identifications were made by comparing the data ( Fig. 2 A) with those from literatures [5][6][7][8] and authentic samples available.…”

Chemical composition and pheromonal function of the defensive secretions in the subtribe Stizopina (Coleptera, Tenebrionidae, Opatrini)

“…The composition of the pygidial defensive secretions of the subtribe Stizopina corresponded to previous findings concerning other tenebrionid beetles, which have shown the ubiquity of methyl-and ethyl-1,4-BQ, mostly accompanied by 1-alkenes of varying chain lengths (Brown et al 1992;Tschinkel 1975a). In addition to these compound, the secretions of Stizopina species contained substantial amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons.…”

“…More than 200 species of 110 genera and 33 tribes have hitherto been analyzed (Brown et al 1992;Gnanasunderam et al 1981;Howard 1987;Tschinkel 1975a). The secretions are primarily made up of quinones.…”

“…Besides these two major classes several compounds belonging to other chemical classes are found in minor amounts. These are monoterpene hydrocarbons (Brown et al 1992;Geiselhardt et al 2006a;Gnanasunderam et al 1981), ketones (Gnanasunderam et al 1985;Peschke and Eisner 1987;Tschinkel 1975b), and phenols (Attygalle et al 1991;Brown et al 1992;Lloyd et al 1978;Tschinkel 1969).…”