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Interaction of liquid epicuticular hydrocarbons and tarsal adhesive secretion in Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

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Abstract

Species of various insect orders possess specialised tarsal adhesive structures covered by a thin liquid film, which is deposited in the form of footprints. This adhesive liquid has been suggested to be chemically and physiologically related to the epicuticular lipid layer, which naturally covers the body of insects and acts as the prime barrier to environmental stresses, such as desiccation. The functional efficiency of the layer, however, is jeopardised by partial melting that may occur at physiological temperatures. In this study, light microscopic images of elytral prints show that the epicuticular lipid layer of the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata actually is partially liquid and chemical investigations reveal the high similarity of the epicuticular hydrocarbon pattern and the tarsal liquid. By means of chemical manipulation of the surface hydrocarbon composition of live beetles, the substance exchange between their tarsal adhesive hairs and the body surface is monitored. Histological sections of L. decemlineata tarsi, furthermore, reveal glandular cells connected to individual adhesive setae and departing from these results, an idea of a general mechanism of tarsal secretion is developed and discussed in a functional–ecological context.

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Abbreviations

GC–FID:

Gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection

GC–MS:

Coupled gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

i :

Methyl branch in hydrocarbons at a position > 8

IRM:

Interference reflection microscopy

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SPME:

Solid-phase microextraction

T m :

Melting point

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for donation of beetles from Hannelore Baudendistel and from Bernd Hommel, Federal research centre for cultivated plants—Julius-Kühn-Institut Kleinmachnow, Germany (formerly Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forests; BBA-IP). Oliver Betz (Universität Tübingen) and Werner Gnatzy (Universität Frankfurt) kindly assisted us with the interpretation of the histological sections. Furthermore, we would like to thank Ruth Lieberth and Tessy Balog-Albonetti for helping with the histological preparations and Wittko Francke (Universität Hamburg) kindly synthesised the alkenes. Moreover, we are indebted to Walter Federle (University of Cambridge) for introducing SFG to the technique of interference reflection microscopy and for provisioning of images which were extremely helpful for understanding the adhesive process.

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  1. Institut für Biologie I, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i.Br., Hauptstr. 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Stefanie F. Geiselhardt, Stefan Lamm, Claudia Gack & Klaus Peschke

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  1. Stefanie F. Geiselhardt
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  2. Stefan Lamm
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Correspondence to Stefanie F. Geiselhardt.

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Geiselhardt, S.F., Lamm, S., Gack, C. et al. Interaction of liquid epicuticular hydrocarbons and tarsal adhesive secretion in Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J Comp Physiol A 196, 369–378 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0522-8

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