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Fate of plant-derived secondary metabolites in three moth species (Syntomis mogadorensis, Syntomeida epilais, andCreatonotos transiens)

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Summary

Larvae of three moth species were compared with respect to strategies used to cope with secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) present in their diet.Syntomeida epilais is monophagous and accepted only oleander (which contains cardenolides, CG). CG were detected as stored products in the larvae and also in the faeces and exuviae. Pure CG (digoxin and gitoxin) which do not occur in oleander fed on oleander leaves were sequestered as the oleander CG.Syntomis mogadorensis is polyphagous: given a choice larvae avoided plants with a high load of allelochemicals. Upon shortage of preferred plants they ate a wide variety of plants which contain alkaloids, terpenes, or phenolics. Of these allelochemicals, alkaloids and CG were mainly recovered in the faeces and only minute fractions in the larvae.Creatonotos transiens larvae behaved similarly toSyntomis in terms of polyphagy and non-resorption. However, the larvae took up and stored pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) such as heliotrine selectively.Creatonotos is thus polyphagous (a generalist) but also a PA-specialist which exploits PA as defensive agents, as a morphogen for the male pheromone gland, and as a precursor for the male pheromone.

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Abbreviations

CG :

cardiac glycosides

IG :

iridoid glycosides

PA :

pyrrolizidine alkaloids

GLC :

gas liquid chromatography

MS :

mass spectrometry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universität, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, D-6900, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Michael Wink

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8130, Seewiesen/Starnberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Dietrich Schneider

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Wink, M., Schneider, D. Fate of plant-derived secondary metabolites in three moth species (Syntomis mogadorensis, Syntomeida epilais, andCreatonotos transiens). J Comp Physiol B 160, 389–400 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01075670

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