Do fecal shields provide physical protection to larvae of the tortoise beetles <i>Plagiometriona flavescens</i> and <i>Stolas chalybea</i> against natural enemies?

Nogueira-de-Sá, Flávia; Trigo, José Roberto

doi:10.1046/j.1570-7458.2002.01007.x

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Protection from ants is a well‐supported hypothesis for certain taxa (Wallace, 1970; Jolivet & Verma, 2002; Flinte et al ., 2003; Flinte & Macêdo, 2004a; Vencl et al ., 2005), although ants have never been observed to attack Neochlamisus specifically (despite abundant field observation by DJF). Predator deterrence through incorporation of host‐plant chemicals into faeces is highly possible, as there is growing evidence demonstrating this in other Chrysomelidae (Pasteels et al ., 1984; Olmstead & Denno, 1992; Olmstead, 1994, 1996; Gómez, 1997, 2004; Morton & Vencl, 1998; Gómez et al ., 1999; Müller & Hilker, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004; Nogueira‐de‐Sá & Trigo, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini)

2008

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Constructions composed of faeces are rare in insects, but occur in certain leaf-beetle clades. Members of the subfamily Cryptocephalinae share a complex behavioural and morphological synapomorphy, involving portable faecal cases that house the immature stages. A maternally initiated egg case is expanded and enlarged through four larval stadia, then sealed to provide a pupal chamber from which adults eventually emerge. We analyse and compare faecal-case architecture in ten taxa of the cryptocephaline genus Neochlamisus, and assess structural variation within a life cycle, between different 'host forms' of Neochlamisus bebbianae, and among species. These cases proved to be comprised primarily of faeces, with plant trichomes representing the only common secondary component. General architectural trends reflected variation in shape, faecal texture, and the incorporation and density of trichomes. Deviations of the Neochlamisus case from a simple geometrical gnomon reflect the changing body size of the animal, differential application of faeces, and shifts in the orientation of the carriage of the case. Neochlamisus cases are presumably energetically costly to produce, carry, and maintain, and some adaptive hypotheses of case evolution are proposed. Additionally, literature on case morphology in other camptosomates is reviewed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini)

2008

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“…Recurso alimentar Fase coletada Proteção dos imaturos Insetos fitófagos associados ao murici da praia, Byrsonima sericea principalmente formigas e hemípteros, e também parasitóides (Wallace 1970;Jolivet 1997;Nogueira-de-Sá & Trigo 2002;Flinte & Macedo 2004). As condições de alta radiação solar, ventos freqüentes e solo arenoso, presentes na restinga, sugere que os abrigos podem estar funcionando, em parte, como proteção contra dessecação.…”

Section: Espéciesunclassified

Insetos fitófagos associados ao murici da praia, Byrsonima sericea (Malpighiaceae), na Restinga de Jurubatiba (RJ)

Flinte¹,

Araujo²,

Macêdo³

et al. 2006

Rev. Bras. entomol.

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“…Tortoise beetles that vigorously wave their shields can beat back attacking predators (Eisner et al 1967;Go´mez 1997;Chaboo 2002;Mu¨ller 2002;Nogueira-de-Sa´and Trigo 2002); however, shields appear to be more than simple barriers. Chemical factors contribute to effective shield function in all our study species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary specialization influences the efficacy of larval tortoise beetle shield defenses

et al. 2005

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Plant chemical defenses and escape from natural enemies have been postulated to select for dietary specialization in herbivorous insects. In field and laboratory bioassays, we evaluated the effectiveness of intact and chemically modified larval shield defenses of the generalist Chelymorpha alternans and the specialists Acromis sparsa and Stolas plagiata (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) against three natural predators, using larvae reared on two morning glory (Convolvulaceae) species. We assessed whether: (1) specialists were better defended than generalists when both were fed and assayed on the same plant; (2) larval shield defenses were chemical, physical, or both; and (3) specialists exploit chemistry better than generalists. Live specialist larvae survived at higher rates than did generalists in predator bioassays with the bug Montina nigripes (Reduviidae), but there were no differences among groups against two species of Azteca ants (Hymenoptera: Dolichoderinae). Solvent leaching by H 2 O or MeOH significantly reduced shield efficacy for all species compared to larvae with intact shields. In contrast, freshly killed specialist larvae exhibited significantly lower capture rates and frequencies than the generalists. Although solvent leaching significantly reduced overall shield efficacy for freshly killed larvae of all species, the pattern of leaching effects differed between specialists and generalists, with H 2 O-leaching having a greater impact on the specialists. The overall vulnerability of the generalists appears due to lower chemical protection, which is ameliorated by increased escape behaviors, suggesting a selective trade-off between these defensive components. These experiments indicate that shield defenses are essential for larval survival and that specialists are superior at exploiting plant compounds residing in the aqueous fraction. Our results support the hypothesis that diet-specialized herbivorous insects have more effective defenses than generalists when both feed on the same plant due to the differential ability to exploit defensive precursors obtained from the host. The evolution of dietary specialization may therefore confer the advantage of enhanced enemy-free space.

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Do fecal shields provide physical protection to larvae of the tortoise beetles Plagiometriona flavescens and Stolas chalybea against natural enemies?

Cited by 19 publications

References 17 publications

Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini)

Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini)

Insetos fitófagos associados ao murici da praia, Byrsonima sericea (Malpighiaceae), na Restinga de Jurubatiba (RJ)

Dietary specialization influences the efficacy of larval tortoise beetle shield defenses

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