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Chemistry of Leichhardt's Grasshopper, Petasida ephippigera, and its Host Plants, Pityrodia jamesii, P. ternifolia, and P. pungens

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Abstract

Investigation of the strikingly aposematic Leichhardt's grasshopper revealed a number of host-plant-derived components. Chemical study of the three known host plants revealed a diverse array of components. Pityrodia ternifolia and P. pungens contain predominantly sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene glycosides and P. jamesii is rich in cineole, dihydrochalcones, chalcones, and monoterpene glycosides. Feces from grasshoppers feeding on P. jamesii contain a mixture of hydroxycineoles, of which 3α-hydroxycineole is the predominant isomer (68%). No evidence for previously suspected "alkaloidal" toxins was found in either the insect or host plant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Mary T. Fletcher

  2. CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, PMB 44, Winnellie, 0821, Australia

    Lynette M. Lowe

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    William Kitching

  4. Institut für Organische Chemie, Universitat Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Wilfried A. König

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  1. Mary T. Fletcher
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  2. Lynette M. Lowe
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  3. William Kitching
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  4. Wilfried A. König
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Fletcher, M.T., Lowe, L.M., Kitching, W. et al. Chemistry of Leichhardt's Grasshopper, Petasida ephippigera, and its Host Plants, Pityrodia jamesii, P. ternifolia, and P. pungens. J Chem Ecol 26, 2275–2290 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005518625764

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