Abstract
Larvae of the small ermine mothYponomeuta mahalebellus were reared on foliage ofPrunus mahaleb, a plant known to contain coumarins. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography showed that coumarin, umbelliferone, and herniarin were present in leaves ofP. mahaleb and in pupae and adults ofY. mahalebellus. Overall concentrations of simple coumarins in the plant and insect were, respectively, 0.54% and 0.003–0.004% (dry weight). The possible role of coumarins in the chemical defense of both the plant and insect is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berenbaum, M. 1978. Toxicity of a furanocoumarin to armyworms: A case of biosynthetic escape from insect herbivores.Science 201:532–534.
Berenbaum, M. 1983. Coumarins and caterpillars: A case for coevolution.Evolution 37:163–179.
Blum, M.S., Rivier, L., andPlowman, T. 1981. Fate of cocaine in the lymantriidEloria noyesi, a predator ofErythroxylum coca.Phytochemistry20:2499–2500.
Gerrits-Heybroek, E.M., Herrebout, W.M., Ulenberg, S.A., andWiebes, J.T. 1978. Host plant preference of five species of ermine moths (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutideae).Entomol. Exp. Appl. 24:160–168.
Harborne, J.B. 1982. Introduction to Ecological Biochemistry. Academic Press, London.
Hazleton, L.W., Tusing, T.W., Zeitlin, B.R., Thiessen, R., Jr., andMurer, H.K. 1956. Toxicity of coumarin.J. Pharmacol, Exp. Ther. 118:348–358.
Hegnauer, R. 1964–1973. Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Vols. 2–6. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel.
Jurd, L., King, A.D., Jr., andMihara, K. 1971. Antimicrobial properties of umbelliferone derivatives.Phytochemistry 10:2965–2970.
Mansour, M.H. 1981. Efficiency of two allelochemics on the conversion of ingested and digested food into the body tissue ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Z. Angew. Entomol. 92:493–499.
Mansour, M.H. 1982. The chronic effect of some allelochemics on the larval development and adult reproductivity of the cotton leafwormSpodoptera littoralis Boisd.Chem. Abstr. 97:51188c.
Mansour, M.H., Dimetry, N.Z., andRofaeel, I.S. 1982. The role of coumarin as secondary plant substance in the food specificity of the cow pea aphidAphis craccivora Koch.Z. Angew. Entomol. 93:151–157.
Marciani, S., Dall'aqua, F., Guelfi, L., andVedaldi, D. 1971. Photoreactivity (365 nm) of some coumarins and 4′,5′-dihydro-furocoumarins with nucleic acids.Z. Naturforsch. 26B:1129–1136.
Meisner, J., andSkatulla, U. 1977. Phagostimulation and phagodeterrency in the larva of the gypsy mothPorthetria dispar L.Chem. Abstr. 86:84703t.
Murray, R.D.H., Mendez, J., andBrown, S.A. 1982. The Natural Coumarins. Occurrence, Chemistry and Biochemistry. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, England.
Rothschild, M. 1973. Secondary plant substances and warning colouration in insects, pp. 59–83,in H.F. van Emden (ed.). Insect/Plant Relationships. Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society, London, Vol. 6. Blackwell Press, Oxford.
Rothschild, M., Mummery, R., andFarrell, C. 1986. Carotenoids of butterfly models and their mimics (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae and Nymphalidae).Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 28:359–372.
Smith, D.A.S. 1978. Cardiac glycosides inDanaus chrysippus (L.) provide some protection against an insect parasitoid.Experientia 34:844–845.
Urzúa, A., Salgado, G., Cassels, B.K., andEckhardt, G. 1983. Aristolochic acids inAristolochia chilensis and theAristolochia-feederBattus archidamas (Lepidoptera).Coll. Czech. Chem. Commun. 48:1513–1519.
Wagner, H., Bladt, S., andZgainski, E.M. 1983. Drogenanalyse. Dünnschichtchromatographische Analyse von Arzneidrogen. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 145–161.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fung, SY., Herrebout, W.M. Coumarins inPrunus mahaleb and its herbivore, the small ermine mothYponomeuta mahalebellus . J Chem Ecol 13, 2041–2047 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01041730
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01041730