Abstract
Caterpillars of the lycaenid butterfly Callophrys rubi accept a variety of hostplants. When fed inflorescences or leaves of Genista tinctoria (a natural hostplant) or Lupinus polyphyllus (a non-host), the larvae completely eliminate quinolizidine alkaloids ingested from their food in their frass. No alkaloids are stored. Infestation by the parasitoid wasp Distatrix sancus (Braconidae) did not affect alkaloid elimination. The presence of an effective anti-toxin system is discussed with reference to the evolution of hostplant relationships in the genus Callophrys. There is no evidence that in the secondarily myrmecoxenous larvae of C. rubi hostplantderived chemical defense takes the place of former myrmecophily.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ballmer GR, Pratt GF (1988) A survey of the last instar larvae of the Lycaenidae of California. J Res Lepid 27:1–81
Ballmer GR, Pratt GF (1992) Loranthomitoura, a new genus of Eumaeini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) Trop Lepid 3:37–46
Boppré M (1990) Lepidoptera and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Exemplification of complexity in chemical ecology. J Chem Ecol 16:165–185
Bowers MD, Larin Z (1989) Acquired chemical defense in the lycaenid butterfly, Eumaeus atala. J Chem Ecol 15:1133–1146
Brower LP (1984) Chemical defence in butterflies. In: Vane-Wright RI, Ackery PR (eds) The biology of butterflies. Academic Press, London, pp 109–134
Ebert G, Rennwald E (eds) (1991) Die Schmetterlinge Baden-Württembergs, Band 2: Tagfalter II. E Ulmer, Stuttgart
Ehmke A, Rohwell-Rahier M, Pasteels JM, Hartmann T (1991) Sequestration of ingested [14C]senecionine N-oxide in the exocrine secretions of chrysomelid beetles. J Chem Ecol 17:2367–2379
Fiedler K (1990) Bemerkungen zur Larvalbiologie von Callophrys rubi L. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Nachr Entomol Ver Apollo Frankfurt NF 11:121–141
Fiedler K (1991) Systematic, evolutionary, and ecological implications of myrmecophily within the Lycaenidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea). Bonner Zool Monogr 31:1–210
Krasnoff SB, Dussourd DE (1989) Dihydropyrrolizine attractants for arctiid moths that visit plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Chem Ecol 15:47–60
Krug E, Proksch P (1991) Effect of toxic plant alkaloids on survival, growth and development of Spodoptera littoralis. Planta Med 57 Suppl 2:39
Mears JA, Mabry TJ (1971) Genisteae. In: Harbourne JN, Boulter D, Turner BL (eds) Chemotaxonomy of the Leguminosae. Academic Press, London, pp 73–178
Miller JS, Feeny P (1983) Effects of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids on the larvae of polyphagous Lepidoptera. Oecologia 58:332–339
Orsak L, Whitman DW (1987) Chromatic polymorphism in Callophrys mossii bayensis larvae (Lycaenidae): spectral characterization, short-term color shifts, and natural morph frequencies. J Res Lepid 25:188–201
Papp J (1988) A survey of the European species of Apanteles Först. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Microgastrinae) XII. Supplement to the key of the glomeratus-group. Parasitoid/host list. 2. Ann Hist-Nat Mus Natl Hung 81:159–203
Pierce NE, Easteal S (1986) The selective advantage of attendant ants for the larvae of a lycaenid butterfly, Glaucopsyche lygdamus. J Anim Ecol 55:451–462
Pierce NE, Kitching RL, Buckley RC, Taylor MFJ, Benbow KF (1987) The costs and benefits of cooperation between the Australian lycaenid butterfly Jalmenus evagoras, and its attendant ants. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 21:237–248
Petrosky R, Yates S, Weisleder S, Powell R (1989) Isolation, semisynthesis and NMR spectral studies of loline alkaloids. J Nat Prod 14:810–817
Pratt GF, Ballmer GR (1991) Acceptance of Lotus scoparius (Fabaceae) by larvae of Lycaenidae. J Lepid Soc 45:188–196
Scott JA (1992) The butterflies of North America. A natural history and field guide. Stanford University Press, Stanford
Sillén-Tullberg B (1988) Evolution of gregariousness in aposematic butterfly larvae: a phylogenetic analysis. Evolution 42:293–305
Veen G (1992) Aspekte zur Biosynthese, Chemie und Chemotaxonomie der Chinolizidinalkaloide. Ph.D thesis, Univ Würzburg
Wink M, Schneider D (1990) Fate of plant-derived secondary metabolites in three moth species (Syntomis mogadorensis, Syntomeida epilais, and Creatonotos transiens). J Comp Physiol B 160:389–400
Wink W, Witte L (1991) Storage of quinolizidine alkaloids in Macrosiphon albifrons and Aphis genistae (Homoptera: Aphididae). Entomol Gener 15:237–254
Wink M, Montllor CB, Bernays EA, Witte L (1991) Uresiphita reversalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Carrier-mediated uptake and sequestration of quinolizidine alkaloids obtained from the host plant Teline monspessulana. Z Naturforsch 46c:1080–1088
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fiedler, K., Krug, E. & Proksch, P. Complete elimination of hostplant quinolizidine alkaloids by larvae of a polyphagous lycaenid butterfly, Callophrys rubi . Oecologia 94, 441–445 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317121
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317121