SummaryAdults of forty-five aposematic insect species from four orders, and/or, in eight cases, their early stages, were examined for the presence of 2-methoxy-3-alkylpyrazines by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The survey also included eight cryptic and related species and six unrelated mimics, twelve selected hostplants of those herbivores that had proved positive for such pyrazines, and nine well known toxic plants. Positive results were as follows: aposematic adult species, 26 (58 %); obscurely coloured species, 1 (12.5%); mimics, 2 (33%); host-plants, 5 (42%); well-known toxic plants, 4 (44%). Among the taxonomic groups, these pyrazines were found in the lepidopterän families and subfamilies Papilionidae, Danainae, Heliconiinae, Acraeinae, Zygaenidae and Arctiidae, and among the Coleoptera, in the Lycidae, Cantharidae, Endomychidae, Coccinellidae, Oedemeridae and Meloidae. Single cases of the occurrence of these pyrazines were also detected in the Hemiptera (Cercopidae) and Orthoptera (Pyrgomorphidae). Mimics were found with and without the pyrazines. Among the plants they were detected in Aristolochiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae, Papaveraceae, Passifloraceae, Solanaceae and Urticaceae. Some aposematie and phytophagous insects apparently sequester pyrazines from their hostplants whereas others, particularly the predatory species, manufacture these substances de novo. Alerting signals in general are discussed.

Recently it has been shown that pyrazines are associated with many aposematic, chemically defended insects. We have demonstrated that naive hatchling chicks, when offered drinking water to which 2‐methoxy‐3‐isobutylpyrazine is added, develop a neophobic ‘alerting’ reaction. The birds are not only capable of forming a conditioned aversion to the pyrazine when it is paired with quinine sulphate but they can also detect it from a distance probably by olfaction. This suggests that birds, a major group of insect predators, can interpret pyrazines as alerting or warning signals. The relationship of pyrazines with other alerting signals, and their evocative qualities are discussed.

2-Methoxy-3-alkylpyrazines have been identified as odour components in Danaus plxippus, agaena lonicerae and an Australian Amata species, by means of coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, with selected ion monitoring. Wide variability in pyrazine content was observed with D . p1ex;PPus and this was correlated with similar variability in the larval food-plants, Asclepias spp., which are presumed to be the odour sources for this butterfly. The importance of pyrazines in the biology of aposematic insects and their role as ingredients of a generalized warning system are discussed.

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