Transfer of cantharidin (1) during copulation from the adult male to the femaleLytta vesicatoria (‘Spanish flies’)

Sierra, Jorge; Woggon, Wolf‐D.; Schmid, Hans

doi:10.1007/bf01937729

Cited by 76 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…On the other hand, the cantharidin content in haemolymph increased significantly in the second extraction in both sexes. Previous studies suggest that cantharidin biosynthesis occurs during early stages of ontogenetic development, and that females are unable to synthesize this toxin, obtaining it from males during copulation (Sierra et al, 1976;Holz et al, 1994). However, our results showed an increase in cantharidin content in haemolymph in females, which could only be explained by their ability to either concentrate cantharidin in haemolymph or synthesize cantharidin themselves.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 74%

“…A second function of cantharidin could also be to help blister beetles avoid internal parasites, due to its fungicidal, nematocidal, and bactericidal properties (Carrel & Eisner, 1974;Bravo et al, 2014). Among blister beetles, males usually have more cantharidin than females (Capinera, Gardner & Stermitz, 1985;Blodgett, Carrel & Higgins, 1991;Carrel et al, 1993;Carrel, 1999;Nikbakhtzadeh & Tirgari, 2002;Mebs et al, 2009;Nikbakhtzadeh et al, 2012), and apparently only males are able to synthesize this toxin (Sierra, Woggon & Schmid, 1976;Holz et al, 1994). Therefore, cantharidin content could also be under sexual selection pressures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cantharidin is conserved across phylogeographic lineages and present in both morphs of Iberian Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

Bravo

Mas‐Peinado

Bautista

et al. 2017

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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Intra-specific coloration polymorphism coupled with an ancient process of lineage differentiation in Berberomeloe majalis (Linnaeus, 1758) offers the opportunity to analyse the temporal scenario in which the correlation between toxicity and coloration might have evolved. Based on phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, we identified the timing for the split between red-striped and entirely black morphotypes of B. majalis. To evaluate whether coloration patterns and toxicity are related in this species, we quantified the concentration of cantharidin across morphotypes and phylogeographic lineages. Phylogenetic analyses based on cox1 mitochondrial DNA sequences recovered three major clades where both morphotypes were intermingled, indicating a multiple homoplastic origin for the entirely black coloration. Our analyses showed that cantharidin content did not differ between morphs of B. majalis; however, it significantly increased in haemolymph in females kept isolated from males, which reveals the females' ability either to concentrate cantharidin towards haemolymph or to synthesize cantharidin themselves. Lack of monophyly and absence of genetic isolation in both morphotypes favour the hypothesis of a recent homoplastic phenomenon to explain the loss of the striped pattern. Our phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses show that changes in coloration are recent, suggesting that the ancient pressures that fixed and maintained red-striped colorations are no longer acting today on B. majalis. The absence of change in cantharidin content (i.e. entirely black and red-striped specimens are equally poisonous) suggests that the evolution of colour polymorphisms in B. majalis is probably decoupled from toxicity.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cantharidin is conserved across phylogeographic lineages and present in both morphs of Iberian Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

Bravo

Mas‐Peinado

Bautista

et al. 2017

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…Remarkably, in meloid beetles, the cantharidin in the eggs may also stem from the male, which transmits the chemical to the female at mating (14,23,24). The strategy is comparable to that of N. flabellata, except that in meloids the cantharidin is synthesized by the male itself.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical basis of courtship in a beetle (Neopyrochroa flabellata): Cantharidin as "nuptial gift".

Eisner

Smedley

Young

et al. 1996

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The amount of cantharidin (Spanish fly) that the Neopyrochroaflabellata male presents to the female as a glandular offering during courtship represents only a small fraction of the total cantharidin the male accumulates systemically following ingestion of the compound. A major fraction of the acquired cantharidin is stored by the male in the large accessory glands of the reproductive system. At mating, the male transfers this supply, presumably as part of the sperm package, to the spermatheca of the female. The female in turn allocates the gift to the eggs. Eggs endowed with cantharidin proved relatively invulnerable to attack by a predaceous beetle larva (Coleomegilla maculata).We demonstrate here that the cantharidin ingested by male Neopyrochroa flabellata (1) is transferred in large measure to the female at mating, and by the female, for protective purposes, to the eggs. Specifically, we demonstrate that (i) cantharidin (Spanish fly), ingested by the male, accumulates primarily in the large accessory glands of the reproductive system; (ii) mating leads to appearance of cantharidin in the sperm receptacle (spermatheca) of the female; (iii) eggs sired by cantharidin-fed males contain cantharidin; and (iv) cantharidin-laden eggs, unlike cantharidin-free eggs, are protected against predation. Preliminary aspects of this study were reported earlier (2). MATERIALS AND METHODSSource and maintenance of beetles, chemical analyses for cantharidin content, and statistical analyses were as described (1). Values (including those in the figures) are given as mean ± SEM.Cantharidin Feeding. Males designated as cantharidin-fed (n = 58) were offered crystalline cantharidin as described (1). Total cantharidin offered to individuals ranged from 5 to 3050 ,ug, given over a span of 1-31 days. Mean quantity per beetle was 766 ± 83 ,ug, given over a period of 8.4 ± 0.9 days.Males designated as cantharidin-unfed (n = 34) were kept unexposed to cantharidin.Dissection. Beetles were killed by freezing and dissected under saline solution. Components of the male reproductive system that were analyzed for cantharidin content were (see Fig. 1A) as follows: testes, including the ducts leading to the seminal vesicles; seminal vesicles; large accessory glands; small accessory glands; and ejaculatory duct. Components of the female reproductive system that were analyzed were (see Fig. 1C) as follows: ovaries, spermatheca, and median oviduct. For both males and females, heads were also analyzed, as well as the alimentary canal, and a sample, designated as remains, consisting of all body parts, minus head, reproductive system, and gut. All samples were weighed immediately after dissection. A small fraction of samples was lost in the course of the analyses (sample sizes for component parts were therefore sometimes variable).Dissection of mated males (n = 7) and mated females (n = 9) was performed, respectively, within 1.0-3.5 h (2.6 ± 0.4 h) and 0.1-2.7 h (1.2 ± 0.3 h) after mating.Matings. These were staged in Petri dishes, as in the co...

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“…This type of "nuptial gift" provides chemical protection to the beetle, by passing on cantharidin to eggs (38). The possibility that cantharidin is transferred from the male to the female during mating was suggested long ago (5) and, more recently, has been confirmed by many researchers (20,27,39). Cantharidin content varies interspecifically (9,10,15,32).…”

Section: Predominant Species and Their Ecological Statusmentioning

confidence: 93%

Medically important beetles (insecta: coleoptera) of Iran

Nikbakhtzadeh¹,

Tirgari²

2008

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis

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This study focused on coleopteran species that are responsible for the emergence of recent cases of dermatological manifestations in Iran. To the best of our knowledge, five species of the family Meloidae and nine species of the genus Paederus are by far the only beetles recognized as medically important in Iran. The staphylinids consists of Paederus ilsae, P. iliensis, P. fuscipes, P. kalalovae, P. balcanicus, P. lenkoranus, P. littoralis, P. carpathicus, P. nigricornis, while the meloids are Mylabris impressa, M. guerini, Muzimes iranicus, Alosimus smyrnensis and Epicauta sharpi. Most cases of linear dermatitis in this country occur in areas bordering the Caspian Sea. This problem is caused by beetles of the genus Paederus which are present as adults from mid-April to October with particularly high incidences from May to August. Fars (in southern Iran) ranks second in number of cases of insect-induced dermatitis. The third major region in which this type of dermatitis has been recorded is Hamedan Province, in the west of the country. Meloid dermatitis showed its highest severity in 2001, when a considerable number of patients sought medical help in Toyserkan and Nahavand counties. New cases of skin blistering were reported along the Persian Gulf coast and the agent was identified as Epicauta sharpi (Coleoptera: Meloidae). In all these regions, it was observed that recorded cases of lesions coincided precisely with the yearly peaks of the beetles. Paederus fuscipes and P. kalalovae are the predominant species along the Caspian Sea shore. It appears that P. fuscipes is homogeneously distributed throughout the Caspian Sea region while the distribution of the other species is more irregular. Paederus fuscipes is probably the major agent that causes linear dermatitis in northern Iran. Whereas this disease is a rural difficulty in the south, mainly in villages or small towns, it is an urban problem in northern provinces along the Caspian Sea shore. Meloid dermatitis has been registered only in western and southern Iran. It is not as widespread as linear dermatitis and remains a minor rural health problem.

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Transfer of cantharidin (1) during copulation from the adult male to the femaleLytta vesicatoria (‘Spanish flies’)

Cited by 76 publications

References 4 publications

Cantharidin is conserved across phylogeographic lineages and present in both morphs of Iberian Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

Cantharidin is conserved across phylogeographic lineages and present in both morphs of Iberian Berberomeloe blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

Chemical basis of courtship in a beetle (Neopyrochroa flabellata): Cantharidin as "nuptial gift".

Medically important beetles (insecta: coleoptera) of Iran

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