The urticating setae of <i><scp>O</scp>chrogaster lunifer</i>, an <scp>A</scp>ustralian processionary caterpillar of veterinary importance

Perkins, Lynda E.; Zalucki, Myron P.; Perkins, N. R.; Cawdell-Smith, A. J.; Todhunter, K. H.; Bryden, W. L.; Cribb, Bronwen W.

doi:10.1111/mve.12156

Cited by 19 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…First, cytoplasmic proteins of the epidermal cells producing the urticating setae are likely to be stored in the setae as remnants of this biosynthetic process. It is noteworthy that setae formation represents a major metabolic effort, leading to a large number of setae that have to be formed in a short time during each molt (up to 1,000,000 in a mature caterpillar of the T. pityocampa, Petrucco-Toffolo et al 2014, and up to 2,000,000 in the bag-shelter moth O. lunifer, Perkins et al 2016). Alternatively, it could be that hemolymph proteins can pass through membranes and enter the epidermis and, in turn, into the setae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the forestry workers of Verona (Italy), chainsaw operators were identified as being most at risk of skin and respiratory disorders, suggesting the need for a thorough medical surveillance of this occupational allergy (Olivieri et al 2012). In Australia, where the setae produced by Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Sch€ affer are associated with equine amnionitis and fetal loss on horse farms (Perkins et al 2016), the cost of a similar moth species to equine health has been estimated at AU$27-43 million per annum (Carrick et al 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Proteome Analysis of Urticating Setae From Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Berardi¹,

Pivato²,

Arrigoni

et al. 2017

Journal of Medical Entomology

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Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is harmful to conifer trees because of defoliation and to public health because of the release of urticating setae from the caterpillars. Contact with setae by humans and domestic animals induces dermatitis, usually localized to the exposed areas. Recent studies demonstrated the presence of a complex urticating mechanism where proteins present in the setae may play a role as activators of immune responses. Yet, limited information is available at present about the proteins occurring in the setae of T. pityocampa. Using a refined method for protein extraction from the setae, and a combination of liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), de novo assembly of transcriptomic data, and sequence similarity searches, an extensive data set of 353 proteins was obtained. These were further categorized by molecular function, biological process, and cellular location. All the 353 proteins identified were found to match through BLAST search with at least one Lepidoptera sequence available in databases. We found the previously known allergens Tha p 1 and Tha p 2 described from T. pityocampa, as well as enzymes involved in chitin biosynthesis, one of the principal components of the setae, and serine proteases that were responsible for inflammatory and allergic reactions in other urticating Lepidoptera. This new proteomic database may allow for a better understanding of the complexity of allergenic reactions due to T. pityocampa and to other Lepidoptera sharing similar defense systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Proteome Analysis of Urticating Setae From Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Berardi¹,

Pivato²,

Arrigoni

et al. 2017

Journal of Medical Entomology

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“…Ochrogaster lunifer is a widespread univoltine species found across coastal and inland Australia where its Acacia, Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp. host trees occur [12,25]. Within the species, there are five nesting types [12] with different ecology, morphology and genetics [26].…”

Section: Field Sites and Data Collection Ochrogaster Lunifermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…on the ground and carried by wind), and by ingestion through contaminated feed and water [8]. The dispersal of urticating caterpillars during prepupation processions is one of the highest risk times for direct contact with humans and animals [12,13]. In a pre-pupation procession, gregarious caterpillars ready to pupate travel head-to-tail in a line from their nest to a pupation site (Additional file 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement behaviour of two social urticating caterpillars in opposite hemispheres

et al. 2020

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Background: Investigating movement ecology of organisms has economic, societal, and conservation benefits. Larval movement of insects for example, plays many significant ecological roles, and with the expansion of the human population and development, encounters and conflicts with insects have increased. Urticating caterpillars are a health concern to people and animals, especially when they disperse in a gregarious and synchronised manner in areas frequented by humans. Ochrogaster lunifer and Thaumetopoea pityocampa from the southern and northern hemispheres respectively, are two geographically-isolated species of moth with similar gregarious urticating caterpillars that can outbreak causing defoliation and medical issues. Methods: Each year from March to May, O. lunifer and T. pityocampa caterpillars leave their nesting sites and form head-to-tail processions on the ground in search of pupation sites. This pre-pupation procession behaviour and its associated risk of human contact with O. lunifer and T. pityocampa caterpillars were studied and compared in Australia and Italy, respectively. The distance, duration, orientation and response to visible light of the pre-pupation processions were studied in both species to determine general patterns. Results: In the morning, O. lunifer and T. pityocampa processions travelled on average 40 and 16 m per day from the nest in 153 and 223 min respectively, in search for potential pupation sites. Ochrogaster lunifer pre-pupation processions travelled generally to the north or south when leaving the nest, as was their final orientation to the bivouac/pupation site. Whereas T. pityocampa processions had no preference in orientation. Ochrogaster lunifer and T. pityocampa pre-pupation processions travelled towards the darker and the lighter areas of the environment, respectively. During our observations, 27% of O. lunifer and 44% of T. pityocampa processions had contact with humans driving, cycling or walking. Conclusions: The amount of human contact is surprising and alarming, because of the serious health implications they cause to humans and animals. The processionary dispersal on the ground risks further spread of urticating hairs that can be easily detached, and particular during inadvertent contact. Our limited sample size of T. pityocampa processions may benefit from more observations to make conclusive remarks on their pre-pupation behaviour. Understanding the movement behaviour of O. lunifer and T. pityocampa pre-pupation processions around populated areas is crucial for predicting exposure risk and application of management strategies.

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“…Variations in wing pattern as they relate to the taxonomic limits of Ochrogaster lunifer has remained an enigma partly because people fear to handle the larvae because they are attributed with causing skin irritation (Southcott , ). Recently, the true setae of caterpillars, which are located dorsally on the abdominal tergites of third to final instar larvae, have been attributed to abortion of horse foetuses; these setae occur in both g‐n and c‐n forms (Perkins et al ). A first attempt to resolve the taxonomic status of the two forms has been made.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wing pattern polyphenism in two behavioural forms of Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Steinbauer

2018

Austral Entomology

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Polyphenisms are common among butterflies (most pronounced in females) but less well documented among moths despite providing insights into the ecology and behaviour of species in which they occur. I studied polyphenism of forewing pattern (maculation) in Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schäffer as it relates to the distribution and nesting behaviour of caterpillars. In south-eastern Australia, ground-nesting (g-n) and canopy-nesting (c-n) forms are the most commonly observed. Nests keep g-n larvae warmer but c-n larvae cooler during the day when they are not foraging; they also provide protection from lower ambient humidity during the day. Females of both behavioural forms have the simplest wing pattern comprising a single spot of silvery white (unpigmented) scales below the areole and delimited by veins M 1 and M 3 . The female pattern occurred most frequently in males from g-n populations which are dominant at higher latitudes. Males from c-n populations, which are dominant at lower latitudes, commonly have wings with one or more streaks of unpigmented scales (reduced melanisation), but some can have the female pattern. Some g-n males can exhibit the streaked pattern if caterpillars develop at lower latitudes. Streaked males weigh less and live longer than spotted males. The weight of gravid females of the g-n form was positively correlated with latitude (Bergmann cline) while those of gravid females of the c-n form were negatively correlated with latitude (converse Bergmann cline). Females of both forms are capital breeders (oviposit once and die), but g-n females lay greater numbers of smaller eggs than c-n females. Although the two behavioural forms do not overlap substantially, adults interbreed under lab conditions and can produce fertile eggs. Significant reaction norms between latitude and streaking indicate that male wing pattern is a shared polyphenism while female wing pattern is a conserved, static trait. Nest temperature and group size probably have interactive effects on the expression of male wing polyphenism and female body size but understanding them will require rearing larvae on different hosts under artificial temperature, humidity and lighting regimes.

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The urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, an Australian processionary caterpillar of veterinary importance

Cited by 19 publications

References 10 publications

Proteome Analysis of Urticating Setae From Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Proteome Analysis of Urticating Setae From Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Movement behaviour of two social urticating caterpillars in opposite hemispheres

Wing pattern polyphenism in two behavioural forms of Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

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