Sexual differences in defensive strategies: investigating chemical defences and visual signals in a wasp moth Amata nigriceps
Royal Society Open Science,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
12(4)
Published: April 1, 2025
Aposematic
animals
use
conspicuous
warning
signals
to
advertise
their
chemical
defences
predators.
Selection
by
predators
can
favour
conspicuousness
and
large
pattern
elements,
which
enhance
predator
avoidance
learning.
In
aposematic
species,
often
varies
among
individuals.
This
variation
be
explained
if
reflects
the
levels
of
defences,
signal
production
or
defence
acquisition
is
costly,
physiological
trade-offs
opposing
selection
pressures
impose
constraints.
To
understand
link
between
we
need
quantify
variability
in
identify
compounds
involved.
Here,
examined
composition
red-necked
wasp
moth
(
Amata
nigriceps
).
We
photographed
wings
abdomens
male
female
moths
analysed
using
ultra-performance
liquid
chromatography.
Females
displayed
more
orange
on
wings,
a
trait
known
protection
against
While
ruled
out
presence
pyrrolizidine
alkaloids
adult
moths,
an
untargeted
metabolomics
approach
suggests
that
they
sequester
other
compounds,
such
as
steroidal
alkylbenzenes,
may
serve
defences.
had
higher
concentrations
these
than
males
but
ecotoxicology
assays
with
Daphnia
showed
exhibited
similar
toxicity.
Language: Английский
Antioxidant availability trades off with warning signals and toxin sequestration in the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)
Ecology and Evolution,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
13(4)
Published: April 1, 2023
In
some
aposematic
species
the
conspicuousness
of
an
individual's
warning
signal
and
concentration
its
chemical
defense
are
positively
correlated.
Several
mechanisms
have
been
proposed
to
explain
this
phenomenon,
including
resource
allocation
trade-offs
where
same
limiting
is
needed
produce
both
defense.
Here,
large
milkweed
bug
(
Language: Английский
Differential accumulation of cardenolides from Asclepias curassavica by large milkweed bugs does not correspond to availability in seeds or biological activity on the bug Na+/K+-ATPase
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
11
Published: June 8, 2023
Milkweed–herbivore
systems
are
characterized
by
cardenolide
chemical
defenses
and
specialized
herbivore
adaptations
such
as
physiological
target
site
insensitivity.
Cardenolide
in
milkweeds
can
vary
terms
of
the
total
concentration,
differences
polarity
individual
cardenolides,
substitution
steroidal
structures
that
contribute
to
molecule's
reactivity.
The
variability
could
represent
plant's
response
natural
selection
adaptation
resistant
herbivores
is
a
characteristic
phenotype-matching
between
defensive
offensive
traits
resulting
from
coevolution.
Here,
we
test
phenotypic
match
composition
seeds
Asclepias
curassavica
those
sequestered
nymphs
adults
seed
Oncopeltus
fasciatus
,
combined
with
tests
inhibitory
capacity
subset
cardenolides
against
Na
+
/K
-ATPase
O.
non-adapted
insect
(
Drosophila
melanogaster
).
We
compare
this
highly
sensitive
porcine
-ATPase.
Among
five
most
abundant
present
milkweed
seeds,
glucopyranosyl
frugoside,
gofruside,
calotropin
were
significantly
more
than
nymphs;
bugs
contained
higher
concentrations
deglucosylated
compounds.
compound,
was
also
for
but
tolerant
all
compounds
compared
D.
enzyme.
Our
results
add
evidence
sequesters
specific
its
host
plants
not
directly
linked
concentration
potency.
Language: Английский
Cardenolides in the defensive fluid of adult large milkweed bugs have differential potency on vertebrate and invertebrate predator Na + /K + -ATPases
Paola Rubiano-Buitrago,
No information about this author
S. Pradhan,
No information about this author
A. A. Aceves
No information about this author
et al.
Royal Society Open Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(6)
Published: June 1, 2024
Aposematic
animals
rely
on
diverse
secondary
metabolites
for
defence.
Various
hypotheses,
such
as
competition,
life
history
and
multifunctionality,
have
been
posited
to
explain
defence
variability
diversity.
We
investigate
the
compound
selectivity
hypothesis
using
large
milkweed
bugs,
Oncopeltus
fasciatus
,
determine
if
distinct
cardenolides
vary
in
toxicity
different
predators.
quantify
bug’s
defensive
secretions
body
tissues
test
individual
compounds
against
predator
target
sites,
Na
+
/K
-ATPases,
that
are
predicted
differ
sensitivity.
Frugoside,
gofruside,
glucopyranosyl
frugoside
gofruside
were
dominant
of
insects,
whereas
two
monoglycosidic
cardenolides—frugoside
gofruside—were
most
abundant
fluid.
These
highly
toxic
(IC
50
<
1
μM)
an
invertebrate
a
sensitive
vertebrate
enzyme,
comparison
glucosylated
compounds.
Gofruside
was
weakest
inhibitor
putatively
resistant
predator.
Glucopyranosyl
calotropin,
found
only
60%
also
effective
enzymes.
Our
results
suggest
sequestered
by
O.
probably
provide
consistency
protection
range
predators
underscore
need
consider
communities
prey
evolution.
Language: Английский
Honest signalling in predator-prey interactions: testing the resource allocation hypothesis
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 10, 2024
Abstract
Warning
signals
are
honest
if
they
reliably
deliver
information
about
prey
unprofitability
to
predators.
One
potential
mechanism
that
may
create
and
maintain
a
positive
relationship
between
the
strength
of
defence
is
resource
allocation
these
costly
traits.
Here,
we
test
this
hypothesis
using
wood
tiger
moth
Arctia
plantagini
s,
whose
females’
red
hindwings
warning
signal
predators
but
show
considerable
variation
in
colouration
within
populations.
These
moths
also
produce
defensive
chemical
known
influence
avian
predator
attack
risk.
Using
dietary
manipulations,
image
analyses,
experiments
with
ecologically
relevant
demonstrate
protein
availability
during
development
can
both
primary
secondary
defence.
Our
results
females
raised
on
high-protein
or
ad
libitum
natural
diet
produced
more
distasteful
fluids
than
those
low-protein
subjected
periodic
food
deprivation.
While
patterning
was
unaffected
by
deprivation,
its
efficacy
diminished
diet.
However,
change
imperceptible
Critically,
influenced
defence:
displayed
correlation
unpalatability,
whereas
absent
findings
weaken
reliability
as
an
indicator
individual’s
capabilities,
highlighting
complex
interplay
ecological
conditions
evolution
signalling.
Language: Английский
No-cost meals might not exist for insects feeding on toxic plants
Biology Open,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
12(6)
Published: June 14, 2023
ABSTRACT
Plants
produce
chemicals
(or
plant
specialised/secondary
metabolites,
PSM)
to
protect
themselves
against
various
biological
antagonists.
Herbivorous
insects
use
plants
in
two
ways:
as
a
food
source
and
defence
source.
Insects
can
detoxify
sequester
PSMs
their
bodies
mechanism
predators
pathogens.
Here,
I
review
the
literature
on
cost
of
PSM
detoxification
sequestration
insects.
argue
that
no-cost
meals
might
not
exist
for
feeding
toxic
suggest
potential
costs
could
be
detected
an
ecophysiological
framework.
Language: Английский