Abstract
Five species of diabroticites with different host-plant preferences produced an essentially identical array of metabolites when fed radiolabeled cucurbitacin B synthesized in vivo and purified fromCucurbita maxima Duchesne seedlings. All species excreted the bulk of the cucurbitacin (67,17-94.59% total dpm), permanently sequestered a small proportion of a cucurbitacin conjugate in the hemolymph (0.98–2.76%), and apportioned the remainder between the gut, the body, and the eggs (when present). Markedly different ratios between the excretory metabolites (i.e., polar vs. unmetabolized cuc) suggest thatDibrotica virgifera virgifera, a grass specialist, andAcalymma vittatum, a cucurbit specialist, have lower rates of metabolic alteration than the polyphagousD. undecimpunctata howardi, D. balteata, andD. cristata, which is associated with relict prairies. Mean life-spans ofD. balteata and D. v. virgifera and maleA. vittatum decreased significantly with continuous feeding onCucurbita fruit containing cucurbitacins (vs. fruit devoid of cucs). The longevity of femaleA. vittatum, however, was unaffected by the presence of cucurbitacins.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen, J.F. 1981. Factors influencing sex pheromone communication behavior in two Diabroticite beetle species,Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber andAcalymma vittata (Fabr.). MS thesis. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Audier, H.E., andDas, B.C. 1966. Mass spectrometry of tetracyclic triterpenes. Part 1. The cucurbitacin group.Tetrahedron Lett. 20:2206–2210.
Blum, M.S. 1983. Detoxification, deactivation and utilization of plant compounds by insects, pp. 265–275,in P.A. Hedin (ed.). Plant Resistance to Insects. ACS Symposium Series, No. 208, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
Brand, J.M., Bracke, J.W., Markovetz, A.J., Wood, D.L., andBrown, L.E. 1975. Production of verbenol pheromone by a bacterium isolated from bark beetles.Nature 254:136–137.
Branson, T.F. 1971. Resistance in the grass tribe Maydae to larvae of the western corn rootworm.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64:861–863.
Branson, T.F., andOrtman, E.E. 1970. The host range of larvae of the western corn rootworm: Further studies.J. Econ. Entomol. 63:800–803.
Bull, D.L., Ivie, G.W., Beier, R.C., Pryor, N.W., andOertli, E.H. 1984. Fate of photosensitizing furanocoumarins in tolerant and sensitive insects.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:893–911.
Chio, H., andMetcalf, R.L. 1979. Detoxification mechanisms for aldrin, carbofuran, fonofos, phorate and terbufos in four species of Diabroticites.J. Econ. Entomol. 72:732–738.
Dauterman, W.C., andHodgson, E. 1978. Detoxification mechanisms in insects, pp. 541–577,in M. Rockstein (ed.). Biochemistry of Insects. Academic Press, New York. 649 pp.
David, A., andVallance, D.K. 1955. Bitter principles of Cucurbitaceae.J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 7:295–296.
Enslin, P.R. 1954. Bitter principles of the Cucurbitaceae. I. Observations on the chemistry of cucurbitacin A.J. Sci. Food Agric. 5:410–416.
Ferguson, J.E., andMetcalf, R.L. 1985. Cucurbitacins: Plant-derived defense compounds for the Diabroticites (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 11:311–318.
Houser, J.S., andBalduf, W.V. 1925. The striped cucumber beetle. Ohio Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 388, pp. 241–361.
Lavie, D., andGlotter, E. 1971. The cucurbitanes, a group of tetracyclic triterpenes.Fortschr. Chem. Org. Naturst. 29:307–362.
Lu, P.Y., Yang, S.Y., andMetcalf, R.L. 1978. Influence of aldrin, methoxychlor, and parathion on longevity ofMusca domestica andPhormia regina, J. Econ. Entomol. 71:407–415.
Metcalf, R.L., Metcalf, R.A., andRhodes, A.M. 1980. Cucurbitacins as kairomones for diabroticite beetles.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:3769–3772.
Metcalf, R.L., Rhodes, A.M., Metcalf, R.A., Ferguson, J., Metcalf, E.R., andLu, P.Y. 1982. Cucurbitacin contents and diabroticite (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) feeding uponCucurbita spp.Environ. Entomol. 11:931–937.
Pitre, H.N., Jr., andKantack, E.J. 1962. Biology of the banded cucumber beetle,D. balteata, in Louisiana.J. Econ. Entomol. 55:904–906.
Reed, G.L., Myers, H.S., andPowell, J.D. 1984. Comparison of cucurbit cultivars as hosts and description of a technique for rearing the striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 77:337–338.
Rehm, S. 1960. Die Bitterstoffe der Cucurbitaceen.Ergeb. Biol. 22:108–136.
Rhinehart, K.L., Jr. 1982. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.Science 218:254–260.
Rhodes, A.M., Metcalf, R.L., andMetcalf, E.R. 1980. Diabroticite beetle responses to cucurbitacin kairomones inCucurbita hybrids.J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 105:838–842.
Self, L.S., Guthrie, F.E., andHodgson, E. 1964. Metabolism of nicotine by tobacco-feeding insects.Nature 204:300–301.
Smith, R.F. 1966. Distributional patterns of selected western North American insects. The distribution of diabroticites in western North America.Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 12:108–110.
Watt, J.M., andBreyer-Brandwuk, M.G. 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa, 2nd ed., E. & S. Livingstone, Edinburgh. 1457 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ferguson, J.E., Metcalf, R.L. & Fischer, D.C. Disposition and fate of cucurbitacin B in five species of diabroticites. J Chem Ecol 11, 1307–1321 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024118
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01024118