Defensive Use by an Insect of a Plant Resin

Eisner, Thomas; Johnessee, Judith S.; Carrel, James E.; Hendry, Lawrence B.; Meinwald, Jerrold

doi:10.1126/science.184.4140.996

Cited by 160 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Such glandular terpenoids are likely to function in defensive behaviour (Cruz-Lopez et al, 2005). The defensive use of glandular terpenoids, either obtained from host plants or synthesized (Laurent et al, 2003), is also known from other insects, such as termites (Bagnères et al, 1990), ants (Blum and Brand, 1972;Morgan et al, 2003), larvae of the sawfly Neodiprion sertifer (Eisner et al, 1974), and other bees (Wheeler et al, 1977;Cane, 1986). In the present case, terpenoids may have a similar function.…”

Section: Potential Functions Of Cuticular Terpenoidsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

2009

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Insects may be unique in having a cuticle with a species-specific chemical profile. In social insects, colony survival depends not only on species-specific but also on colony-specific cuticular compounds with hydrocarbons playing an important role in the communication systems of ants, termites, wasps and bees. We investigated inter-and intraspecific differences in the composition of compounds found on the body surface of seven paleotropical stingless bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) at two different sites in Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia). Besides hydrocarbons, the body surface of all seven stingless bee species comprised terpenoid compounds, a substance class that has not been reported for chemical profiles of any social insect so far. Moreover, the chemical profile of some species differed fundamentally in the composition of terpenoids with one group (e.g. sesquiterpenes) being present in one species, but missing in another. Chemical profiles of different colonies from the same species showed the same hydrocarbonand terpenoid compounds over different regions, as tested for Tetragonilla collina and Tetragonula melanocephala. However, chemical profiles differed quantitatively between the different colonies especially in T. melanocephala. It is likely that the terpenoids are derived from plant resins because stingless bees are known to collect and use large amounts of resins for nest construction and defence, suggesting an environmental origin of the terpenoids in the chemical profile of paleotropical stingless bees.

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Section: Potential Functions Of Cuticular Terpenoidsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

2009

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“…After the Wrst instar, larvae have also defensive movements, such as rearing of the front end and emission of a droplet of resin Xuid when disturbed by a predator (Eisner et al 1974;Kalin and Knerer 1977;Larsson et al 1986;RaVa 1995b 1996;Hunter 2000). The chemical defence of pine sawXy larvae originates from their ability to exploit the chemical defences of pine trees (Ikeda et al 1977;RaVa 1995b, 1996;Larsson et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of group size and pine defence chemicals on Diprionid sawfly survival against ant predation

et al. 2006

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The defence chemicals and behavioural adaptations (gregariousness and active defensive behaviour) of pine sawfly larvae may be effective against ant predation. However, previous studies have tested their defences against very few species of ants, and few experiments have explored ant predation in nature. We studied how larval group size (groups of 5 and 20 in Neodiprion sertifer and 10, 20 and 40 in Diprion pini) and variation in levels of defence chemicals in the host tree (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris) affect the survival of sawfly larvae. Food preference experiments showed that ants do eat sawfly larvae, although they are not their most preferred food item. According to our results, ant predation significantly increases the mortality rate of sawfly larvae. Larval mortality was minor on pine tree branches where ant traffic was excluded. We also found that a high resin acid concentration in the host tree significantly decreased the mortality of D. pini larvae when ants were present. However, there was no such relationship between the chemical concentrations of the host tree and larval mortality for N. sertifer. Surprisingly, grouping did not help sawfly larvae against ant predation. Mortality risk was the same for all group sizes. The results of the study seemingly contradict previous understanding of the effectiveness of defence mechanisms of pine sawfly against ant predation, and suggest that ants (Formica exsecta in particular) are effective predators of sawfly larvae.

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“…Major predators of sawfly larvae include arthropods, such as ants, and birds (Benson, 1950). Knowledge on the chemical ecology of defensive strategies in sawfly larvae mainly concerns the Diprionidae, Tenthredinidae and Pergidae (e.g., Eisner et al, 1974;Boevé and Pasteels, 1985;Wagner and Raffa, 1993;Boevé and Schaffner, 2003). In contrast, very little is known about the way Arge larvae defend against these predators, but the following traits may be involved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti-predator defence mechanisms in sawfly larvae of Arge (Hymenoptera, Argidae)

Petre

Detrain

Boevé

2007

Journal of Insect Physiology

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Larvae of the sawfly Arge (Hymenoptera, Argidae) are exposed to predators such as ants. Their defence mechanisms, which have been almost unstudied, were investigated by behavioural observations coupled to a morphological approach and by testing the bioactivity of several body parts. Arge larvae raised their abdomen when contacted by Myrmica rubra workers. The ants rarely bit a larva and generally retreated immediately, sometimes without contacting it. Most of those few ants that bit a larva then showed an uncoordinated walk. Crude hemolymph from a common species, A. pagana, was a feeding deterrent towards ants. Hemolymph extracts remained active up to a concentration of 0.8 µg DW extract per microlitre solution, and were more active than integument and gut extracts. We also observed ants paralysed by extracts, especially from the gut. It is likely that this toxicity is due to a polypeptide, lophyrotomin, which is known to occur in A. pullata. Six or seven non-eversible ventro-abdominal glands occurred in all species studied (A. fuscipes, A. nigripes, A. ochropus, A. pagana, A. pullata, A. ustulata). These glands contain volatiles. We consider both types of chemicals to be important in defence, and we propose that the paralysing effect is a common feature among Arge species.

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Defensive Use by an Insect of a Plant Resin

Cited by 160 publications

References 11 publications

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

Effects of group size and pine defence chemicals on Diprionid sawfly survival against ant predation

Anti-predator defence mechanisms in sawfly larvae of Arge (Hymenoptera, Argidae)

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