Development of Lymantria dispar affected by manganese in food

Abstract

We studied the response of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)) to the content of manganese in food in the laboratory breeding of caterpillars. The food of the caterpillars {Betula pendula Roth (Fagales: Betulaceae) leaves} was contaminated by dipping in the solution of MnCl2 · 4H2O with manganese concentrations of 0, 0.5, 5 and 10 mg ml(-1), by which differentiated manganese contents (307; 632; 4,087 and 8,124 mg kg(-1)) were reached. Parameters recorded during the rearing were as follows: effect of manganese on food consumption, mortality and length of the development of caterpillars, pupation and hatching of imagoes. At the same time, manganese concentrations were determined in the offered and unconsumed food, excrements, and exuviae of the caterpillars, pupal cases and imagoes by using the AAS method. As compared with the control, high manganese contents in the food of gypsy moth caterpillars affected the process of development particularly by increased mortality of the first instar caterpillars (8 % mortality for caterpillars with no Mn contamination (T0) and 62 % mortality for subjects with the highest contamination by manganese (T3)), by prolonged development of the first-third instar (18.7 days (T0) and 27.8 days (T3)) and by increased food consumption of the first-third instar {0.185 g of leaf dry matter (T0) and 0.483 g of leaf dry matter (T3)}. The main defence strategy of the caterpillars to prevent contamination by the increased manganese content in food is the translocation of manganese into frass and exuviae castoff in the process of ecdysis. In the process of development, the content of manganese was reduced by excretion in imagoes to 0.5 % of the intake level even at its maximum inputs in food.

Metals and metal isotopes in insect wings: Implications for diet, geolocation and pollution exposure

“…Manganese is an essential co-factor in many enzymes but can impact insect behavior at low doses and, like all metals, is toxic in excess (Ben-Shahar 2018). Caterpillars of Lymantria dispar and Cabera pusaria have been shown to excrete excess Mn through frass and molting (Kula et al . 2014, Martinek et al .…”

The impact of some inorganic substances on change in body mass of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) larvae in a laboratory experiment

“…It was found that P. arborator avoided manganese intoxication through food by releasing manganese into the feces or by neutralizing manganese in relatively high concentrations. Kula et al (2014) studied the reaction of Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) to the content of manganese in food during laboratory breeding of the caterpillars. The caterpillars were fed with leaves of birch soaked in solutions of MnCl 2 at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 5 and 10 mg kg -1 , the content of manganese equaled 307, 632, 4,087 and 8,124 mg kg -1 .…”

The Impact of Environmental Mn Exposure on Insect Biology

“…Although essential, chronic dietary exposure to Mn is often toxic and detrimental to the fitness of most arthropod species, including insects, via effects on embryonic development, feeding behaviors, reproduction, immunity, and general survivability ( Olsén, 2011 ; Kula et al, 2014 ; Ternes et al, 2014 ; de Barros et al, 2017 ; Martinek et al, 2018 ). For example, the collembolan Folsomia candida is highly sensitive to Mn in its diet ( Kuperman et al, 2004 ).…”

“…However, other arthropods, such as the fly Megaselia scalaris , show few adverse effects of Mn exposure, even at levels as high as 2,600 mg Mn/kg ( Sorensen et al, 2009 ). While the exact mechanisms that affect the sensitivity threshold of insects to Mn exposure are mostly unknown, studies suggest that some species can actively avoid the consumption of Mn-contaminated foods ( Rokytova et al, 2004 ), while others evolved mechanisms for efficient excretion of dietary Mn and/or its sequestration in specific body parts ( Kula et al, 2014 ; Martinek et al, 2017 , 2018 ).…”