Defensive substances of opilionids

Roach, Braden; Eisner, Thomas; Meinwald, Jerrold

doi:10.1007/bf01402927

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The occurrence of alkylated 1,4-benzoquinones in G. longipes is chemotaxonomically in agreement with the constitution of the defensive secretions previously reported for other Gonyleptidae (Estable et al, 1955;Fieser and Ardao, 1956;Roach et al, 1980;Acosta et al, 1993;Eisner et al, 2004), including congeneric species, such as Goniosoma spelaeum (Gnaspini and Cavalheiro, 1998). The derivative 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone has been already identified in other harvestman species belonging to the families Cosmetidae, Gonyleptidae, and Manaosbiidae (Estable et al, 1955;Fieser and Ardao, 1956;Eisner et al, 1977Eisner et al, , 2004Roach et al, 1980;Acosta et al, 1993), but this is the first report of 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone as a natural product. Moreover, the use of bidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry is reported for the first time for chemical characterization of substances from harvestmen, providing additional protocols for studies of scent secretions in the group.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…To date, nearly 30 species have had their secretions chemically characterized, and a phylogenetic pattern may be observed. Species belonging to the suborder Eupnoi produce a variety of acyclic compounds, such as short-chain ketones and alcohols among the sclerosomatids and naphthoquinones among the phalangiids (references in Roach et al, 1980). In the suborder Laniatores, species of the superfamily Travunioidea produce mainly terpenoids, whereas among the Gonyleptoidea, the secretion is composed of phenols and alkylated 1,4-benzoquinones (references in Eisner et al, 1978;Acosta et al, 1993;Gnaspini and Cavalheiro, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical Defense in Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): Do Benzoquinone Secretions Deter Invertebrate and Vertebrate Predators?

et al. 2005

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Abstract-Two alkylated 1,4-benzoquinones were identified from the defensive secretion produced by the neotropical harvestman Goniosoma longipes (Gonyleptidae). They were characterized as 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. We tested the effectiveness of these benzoquinone secretions against several predator types, including invertebrates and vertebrates. Different predators were exposed to the harvestmen's gland secretion or to distilled water in laboratory bioassays. Our results indicate that secretions containing the 1,4-benzoquinones released by G. longipes can be an effective defense against predation, and that the effectiveness of the secretion is dependent on the predator type. The scent gland secretion repelled seven ant species, two species of large wandering spiders, and one frog species, but was not an effective defense against an opossum. Our study also demonstrates that the scent gland secretion of G. longipes can work as a chemical shield preventing the approach of three large predatory ants for at least 10 min. The chemical shield may protect the harvestman against successive attacks of the same ant worker and also allow the harvestman to flee before massive ant recruitment. Our data support the suggestion that chemical defenses may increase survival with some but not all potential predators. This variation in defense effectiveness may result from many interacting factors, including the attack strategy, size, learning ability, and physiology of the predators, as well as the chemical nature of the defensive compounds, type of emission, and amount of effluent released by the prey.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Defense in Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): Do Benzoquinone Secretions Deter Invertebrate and Vertebrate Predators?

et al. 2005

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“…Their presence in opilionids appears to be restricted to species of the families Gonyleptidae (to which A. aculeatus belongs) and Cosmetidae, both members of the suborder Laniatores Roach et al, 1980;Holmberg, 1986;Acosta et al, 1993). However, 1,4-benzoquinones are not the exclusive defensive compounds of the Laniatores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical defense of an opilionid (Acanthopachylus aculeatus)

Eisner

Rossini

González

et al. 2004

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The opilionid Acanthopachylus aculeatus was shown to produce a defensive secretion containing quinones (2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone,2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone),confirming the findings reported nearly a half century ago in a classic study. The mechanism by which the opilionid puts the secretion to use is described. When disturbed, the animal regurgitates enteric fluid, which it conveys by intercoxal clefts to the anterolateral corners of the carapace, where the two gland openings are situated. It then injects some of its quinonoid secretion into the fluid, and conveys the mixed liquid along the length of its flanks by way of two special channels. Such a discharge mechanism may be widespread among opilionids of the family Gonyleptidae (suborder Laniatores), to which A. aculeatus belongs. In a bioassay based on a scratch reflex in decapitated cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) the liquid effluent of A. aculeatus was shown to be potently irritating. Use of the effluent was demonstrated to protect the opilionid against ants (Formica exsectoides). Wolf spiders (Lycosa ceratiola) were shown to be minimally affected by the effluent (they showed little response when the fluid was added to their mouthparts as they fed on mealworms, their normal laboratory prey), although they proved to be aversive to mere contact with the opiliond itself, and to reject the animal without inducing it to discharge. A. aculeatus may therefore contain distasteful factors besides its glandular products.

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“…Laniatores, de forma geral, produzem quinonas metiladas (Estable et al, 1955;Fieser & Ardao, 1956;Eisner et al, 1971Eisner et al, , 2004Acosta et al, 1993;Gnaspini & Cavalheiro, 1998) e, eventualmente alguns tipos de fenóis Roach et al, 1980;Duffield et al, 1981). Ekpa et al (1984) registraram em Sclerobunus robustus, espécie da família Triaenonychidae, a ocorrência de substâncias que divergem do que se sabe que muitos outros opiliões produzem, tais como bornil-propionato, bornil-acetato, feniltilamina, nicotina e traços de limoneno e canfeno.…”

Section: Travunioidea E Triaenonychoidea Representam Os Insidiatoresunclassified

“…Há inclusive algumas substâncias como 4,6-dimetil-6-noneno-3-ona (Jones et al, 1976), 2-metil-5-etilfenol ) e 2,3,4-trimetilfenol (Roach et al, 1980), dentre outras, que nunca haviam sido encontradas na natureza.…”

Section: Travunioidea E Triaenonychoidea Representam Os Insidiatoresunclassified

Estudo comparado da morfologia da região do ozóporo de opiliões Laniatores (Arachnida, Opiliones)

Rodrigues¹

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Defensive substances of opilionids

Cited by 30 publications

References 9 publications

Chemical Defense in Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): Do Benzoquinone Secretions Deter Invertebrate and Vertebrate Predators?

Chemical Defense in Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones): Do Benzoquinone Secretions Deter Invertebrate and Vertebrate Predators?

Chemical defense of an opilionid (Acanthopachylus aculeatus)

Estudo comparado da morfologia da região do ozóporo de opiliões Laniatores (Arachnida, Opiliones)

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