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HPLC-MS Analysis of Lichen-Derived Metabolites in the Life Stages of Crambidia cephalica (Grote & Robinson)

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Abstract

Tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini) are notable for their specialized associations with hosts that produce toxic secondary compounds, and are thus an ideal study system for understanding insect-plant interactions and the evolution of antipredatory defense. Likewise, their sister lineage (Arctiinae: Lithosiini) has been documented feeding on algae and lichens, and is known to sequester lichen-derived secondary compounds from the larval to adult stages. Prevalence of lichenivory in this early radiation (ca. 3000 species) may provide clues to the phylogenetic basis for storied chemical sequestration within all tiger moths. Despite the evolutionary significance of this trait, we lack a basic understanding of the extent of lichenivory among lithosiines, and the distribution of sequestered chemicals among life stages. The dynamics of chemical sequestration throughout the lifecycle for the lichen moth Crambidia cephalica were investigated by testing the hypothesis that lichen-derived metabolites are unequally distributed among life stages, and that laboratory-reared C. cephalica have less metabolite diversity than wild-caught individuals. Crambidia cephalica was reared on Physcia, and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Several putative lichen-derived metabolites were detected across three life stages, i.e., larval, pupal, and adult, and differences among life stages and lichen host were observed. These results provide evidence that multiple lichen-derived metabolites are sequestered by C. cephalica; some metabolites are retained through adulthood, and others are lost or modified in earlier life stages. The presence of differing lichen-derived metabolites across life stages may indicate functional properties of the metabolites for C. cephalica with regards to chemical protection from antagonists, and other physiological processes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Clare Scott for assistance in compiling a lichen secondary metabolite database, assistance with data collection, and critical review of an earlier version of the manuscript. The manuscript was greatly improved by the recommendations of two anonymous reviewers. We also thank the staff at the Southwestern Research Station near Portal, AZ for facilitating the collection of specimens for analysis. This research was funded by Purdue University, National Science Foundation-DEB#0919185 to S. Weller and J. Zaspel, Collaborative Research Grant, and National Science Foundation EF#1115043 (InvertNet) to J. Zaspel. Support for DLW was provided by USDA Co-op Agreement 14-CA-11420004-138.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Timothy J. Anderson, Megan E. McCarty & Jennifer M. Zaspel

  2. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    David L. Wagner

  3. Metabolite Profiling Facility, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Bruce R. Cooper

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  1. Timothy J. Anderson
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Correspondence to Timothy J. Anderson.

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Anderson, T.J., Wagner, D.L., Cooper, B.R. et al. HPLC-MS Analysis of Lichen-Derived Metabolites in the Life Stages of Crambidia cephalica (Grote & Robinson). J Chem Ecol 43, 66–74 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0799-3

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