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The scent of alarm: ontogenetic and genetic variation in the osmeterial gland chemistry of Papilio glaucus (Papilionidae) caterpillars

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Abstract

Within a species, ontogenetic and genetic variation in defensive chemistry can provide the basis for natural selection from different predator types. The osmeterial chemistry of fifth (last) instar Papilio glaucus caterpillars is known to differ qualitatively from the composition of early instar caterpillars. However, the osmeterial chemistry of early instar caterpillars has not been thoroughly characterized and may change as the caterpillars undergo their first three molts. We have used GC/MS to identify a suite of about 50 different terpene compounds in the osmeterial secretions of P. glaucus caterpillars, and found the relative amounts of these compounds changed significantly with each molt. These quantitative changes preceded the more dramatic qualitative switch to the production of 2-methylbutyric and isobutyric acids after the molt to the fifth instar. We also examined the effects of diet and genetic background on the relative quantities of 15 terpenes present in the secretions of third instar caterpillars. Parentage was found to affect the percentages of many more of the individual components than did diet, although both exerted an effect. The ontogenetic and genetic variations in the composition of the osmeterial secretions appear to have an effect on would-be predators. In the laboratory, terpene secretion was found to discourage attack by ants, whereas the switch from terpene to acid production rendered the caterpillars less palatable to a larger predator, the green anole. In the field, the presence of functional osmeteria did not seem to dramatically increase survival in a field study, and only a small, non-significant advantage was seen. Similarly, field data was suggestive that parentage might affect the likelihood of survival in a natural setting, but the stage of the caterpillar and the field site significantly affected survivorship. Further studies with greater replicates will be needed to determine whether and to what extent chemical differences in osmeterial components as well as behavior contribute to differences in outcomes in the field.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Agnes Rimando for getting her started on the GC/MS work and for a critical review of the manuscript. Heléne and Allen Frankfater helped enormously in setting out caterpillars in the July field study, and Scott Alcock assisted in censusing and collecting the caterpillars at the end of that study.

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Author notes

  1. Cheryl Frankfater

    Present address: Southern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA

  2. Maria R. Tellez

    Present address: Mass Spectrometry Department, Inter Science Institute, Inglewood, CA, 90302, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Cheryl Frankfater & Marc Slattery

  2. Natural Product Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, National Center for the Development of Natural Products, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Maria R. Tellez

Authors
  1. Cheryl Frankfater
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  2. Maria R. Tellez
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  3. Marc Slattery
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Correspondence to Cheryl Frankfater.

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Frankfater, C., Tellez, M.R. & Slattery, M. The scent of alarm: ontogenetic and genetic variation in the osmeterial gland chemistry of Papilio glaucus (Papilionidae) caterpillars. Chemoecology 19, 81–96 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-009-0013-y

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