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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids quantitatively regulate both scent organ morphogenesis and pheromone biosynthesis in maleCreatonotos moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

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Summary

Males ofCreatonotos gangis andC. transiens possess coremata (‘scent organs’) of drastically varying sizes (Figs. 2, 3), which release R(-)-hydroxydanaidal (Fig. 1A) in varying amounts. Both the size of the organs and their pheromone content depend on the ingestion of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs; Fig. 1 B, C) by the larvae. There is a direct correlation between amounts of PAs ingested and the size of the organs (Fig. 4). It is the absolute amount of PAs ingested which determines the expression of corematal size, structurally different PAs have identical effects (Table 2); PAs are no essential dietary factors for the general development of the moths (Table 1), and the morphogenetic effect is restricted to the coremata. The findings are discussed in terms of developmental, ecological and functional aspects.

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Abbreviations

PAs :

pyrrolizidine alkaloids

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologie, SFB 4/B6, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-8400, Regensburg

    Michael Boppré

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8131, Seewiesen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Dietrich Schneider

Authors
  1. Michael Boppré
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  2. Dietrich Schneider
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Boppré, M., Schneider, D. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids quantitatively regulate both scent organ morphogenesis and pheromone biosynthesis in maleCreatonotos moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). J. Comp. Physiol. 157, 569–577 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01351351

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01351351

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