How to fight multiple enemies: target-specific chemical defences in an aposematic moth

Rojas, Bibiana; Burdfield‐Steel, Emily; Pakkanen, Hannu; Suisto, Kaisa; Maczka, Michael; Schulz, Stefan

doi:10.1098/rspb.2017.1424

Cited by 66 publications

(110 citation statements)

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“…The latter experiments used the raw material and thus could not determine whether it was due to the physical and/or chemical properties of the propolis. Our field experiments, using chemical extracts, confirm that for T. carbonaria , the nonvolatile, nonpolar chemicals present in the propolis are sufficient to act as an ant deterrent (sensu Bentley & Day, ; Zhang et al., ; Rojas et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Interestingly, workers of T. carbonaria extract relatively higher amounts of resin from nearby species of Corymbia (Myrtaceae), compared with the sympatric stingless bee Austroplebeia australis , suggesting T. carbonaria has a greater need for these products (Leonhardt, Heard, & Wallace, ). Here we use field experiments to ask whether the chemical properties of T. carbonaria nest entrance propolis and its derivative Corymbia resin can deter ants (sensu Bentley & Day, ; Zhang et al., ; Rojas et al., ). Specifically, we derived polar (ethanol) and nonpolar (hexane) extracts from resin and propolis, to create chemical “barriers” around artificial food baits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonvolatile chemicals provide a nest defence mechanism for stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae, Meliponini)

et al. 2018

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Social insects construct nests that protect their brood and food resources from both the physical environment and natural enemies. Stingless bees use plant‐derived resins, mixed with wax to form propolis, in the construction of their nests, and these products can be effective sources of defense against natural enemies, including ants. However, it is not known whether this defense, in the form of deterring or repelling workers, derives from the physical properties or chemical compounds of these products. The nest entrance of Tetragonula carbonaria is constructed with propolis and Corymbia resins, and we ask whether nonvolatile chemicals present in these products act as a defense against ants. Our field experiments revealed that workers of Iridomyrmex mayri Forel were deterred from crossing a chemical barrier comprising nonvolatile, nonpolar (hexane) extracts of propolis and Corymbia tree resin. However, polar (ethanol) extracts did not have this effect. These data are the first to demonstrate that the chemical components alone of entrance propolis and resins can provide a nest‐defense function against ants.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonvolatile chemicals provide a nest defence mechanism for stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae, Meliponini)

et al. 2018

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“…Alternatively, the recently observed strong pyrazine odour of yellow males, which is more effective than that of white males (Rojas et al, 2017), may explain the hesitation of birds when attacking yellow moths. By contrast, the strong UV reflection of the hindwings of white males, though making them conspicuous to both females and birds, is unlikely to contribute to avoidance learning.…”

Section: Aposematic Vs Intraspecific Signalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both adult males (Nokelainen et al, 2012;Rojas et al, 2017) and females (Brain, 2016;Lindstedt, Reudler Talsma, Ihalainen, Lindström, & Mappes, 2010) are unpalatable to bird predators, which learn the moths' hindwing coloration as a warning signal (Lindstedt et al, 2011;Nokelainen, Valkonen, Lindstedt, & Mappes, 2014;Nokelainen et al, 2012;Rönkä, De Pasqual, Mappes, Gordon, & Rojas, 2018). Although the coloration of A. plantaginis has mostly been studied within the context of aposematism and predator-prey interactions (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An aposematic colour‐polymorphic moth seen through the eyes of conspecifics and predators – Sensitivity and colour discrimination in a tiger moth

et al. 2018

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Although predation is commonly thought to exert the strongest selective pressure on coloration in aposematic species, sexual selection may also influence coloration. Specifically, polymorphism in aposematic species cannot be explained by natural selection alone. Males of the aposematic wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis) are polymorphic for hindwing coloration throughout most of their range. In Scandinavia, they display either white or yellow hindwings. Female hindwing coloration varies continuously from bright orange to red. Redder females and yellow males suffer least from bird predation. White males often have higher mating success than yellow males. Therefore, we ask whether females can discriminate the two male morphs by colour. Males approach females by following pheromone plumes from a distance, but search visually at short range. This raises the questions whether males discriminate female coloration and, in turn, whether female coloration is also sexually selected. Using electroretinograms, we found significantly larger retinal responses in male than female A. plantaginis, but similar spectral sensitivities in both sexes, with peaks in the UV (349 nm), blue (457 nm) and green (521 nm) wavelength range. According to colour vision models, conspecifics can discriminate white and yellow males as separate morphs, but not orange and red females. For moths and birds (Cyanistes caeruleus), white males are more conspicuous against green and brown backgrounds, mostly due to UV reflectivity, and red females are slightly more conspicuous than orange females. The costly red coloration among females is likely selected by predator pressure, not by conspecifics, whereas male colour polymorphism is probably maintained, at least partly, by the opposing forces of predation pressure favouring yellow males, and female preference for white males. Whether or not the preference for white males is based on visual cues requires further testing. The evolution of polymorphic aposematic animals can be better understood when the visual system of the species and their predators is taken into consideration. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13100/suppinfo is available for this article.

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“…This visual signal is coupled with two types of chemical defences, one of which (hereafter, neck fluids) is particularly deterrent against birds (Rojas et al 2017a). Experiments done with real moths and dummies, both in the lab and in the wild, indicate that yellow individuals tend to be less attacked by birds, suggesting that yellow is a better warning signal (Nokelainen et al 2012(Nokelainen et al , 2014; but see Rönkä et al 2018), yet from those studies, it is not possible to infer which of the components of the warning display is conferring this advantage.…”

Section: Communicated By J C Choementioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple modalities in insect warning displays have additive effects against wild avian predators

Rojas

Burdfield‐Steel

2019

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Allocation to different components of defence has been suggested as an explanation for the existence of multiple aposematic morphs in a single population. We tested whether there are trade-offs between warning colouration and chemical defence or whether these have an additive effect when combined, using blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) as predators and the polymorphic wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis) as prey. We used artificial edible models (with and without the moths' defensive fluids) with paper wings whose colour and pattern properties matched those of real moths. When the models were presented sans defensive fluids or when the fluids were presented without colour cues, we detected no differences in initial avoidance between the two morphs. However, when the colour and chemical cues were combined, differences emerged. White wings elicited higher latency to approach regardless of the defensive fluids applied on them. After approach, however, the defensive fluids of both morphs presented on moth models elicited higher latency to attack than a water control, hinting at a repellent odour. Fluids of white moths rendered lower amounts of prey eaten regardless of wing colour, while yellow moths' fluids provoked the highest occurrence of beak wiping behaviour. Our findings highlight the importance of accounting for interactive effects between different signal modalities, as these can create patterns not detectable when examined in isolation. Understanding these interactions is vital to determine how different components of multimodal warning displays provide protection at different stages of a predation event and, potentially, how multiple morphs can co-occur in a population. Significance statementThere are many things that can stop a predator attacking a prey such as looking scary or smelling bad, but if a predator does take a bite, tasting bad can make the difference between life and death for the prey. When combined with bright conspicuous colours, both repellent odours and deterrent tastes (i.e. chemical defences) can help predators learn to avoid unprofitable prey. However, it is unclear whether it is really the sum of these visual and chemical signals that most effectively deters predators or whether one is more important than the other. Examining the effects of warning colour and chemical defence in white and yellow wood tiger moths on wild-caught birds, we show that neither aspect of the moths' defence in isolation is as effective for predator deterrence as the sum of both.

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How to fight multiple enemies: target-specific chemical defences in an aposematic moth

Cited by 66 publications

References 56 publications

Nonvolatile chemicals provide a nest defence mechanism for stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae, Meliponini)

Nonvolatile chemicals provide a nest defence mechanism for stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae, Meliponini)

An aposematic colour‐polymorphic moth seen through the eyes of conspecifics and predators – Sensitivity and colour discrimination in a tiger moth

Multiple modalities in insect warning displays have additive effects against wild avian predators

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