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Isolation of a lactone, structurally related to the esterifying acids of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, from the costal fringes of male Ithomiinae

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Abstract

Adult male Ithomiinae feed at plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Certain species secrete on hairs of the “costal fringe,” a specialized organ on their hindwings, a novel γ-lactone structurally related to the unusual branched-chain acids that are unique to these alkaloids.

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Edgar, J.A., Culvenor, C.C.J. & Pliske, T.E. Isolation of a lactone, structurally related to the esterifying acids of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, from the costal fringes of male Ithomiinae. J Chem Ecol 2, 263–270 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988276

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988276

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