Summary
Adult males ofLytta vesicatoria (Coleopt., Meloidae) synthesize cantharidin, but females do not, although the substance is present in the females too. We developed a method for rearing larvae of this parasitic beetle in the laboratory. It is shown that there exist 7 larval stages and 4 hypermetamorphic forms (triungulinus, second larva,pseudochrysalis and fourth larva). Larvae from the second to the fifth stage (second larva) synthesize cantharidin. Therefore, we conclude that the substance present in the adult female is at least in part synthesized in the larval period. Nothing is known about the biological significance of this biochemical sexual dimorphism.
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Coleoptera, Meloidae.
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Meyer, D., Schlatter, C., Schlatter-Lanz, I. et al. Die Zucht vonLytta vesicatoria im Laboratorium und Nachweis der Cantharidinsynthese in Larven. Experientia 24, 995–998 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02138702
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02138702