Intraspecific variation in the alkaloids of Adalia decempunctata (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae): sex, reproduction and colour pattern polymorphism.

Abstract

In this paper, we examine intraspecific variation in the quantity of alkaloid chemical defence in field collected individuals of the polymorphic ladybird beetle Adalia decempunctata (10spot ladybird). Like its more widely studied relative Adalia bipunctata (2-spot ladybird), A. decempunctata possesses the alkaloids adaline and adalinine, which are, respectively, the major alkaloids of A. bipunctata. We focused especially on alkaloid concentration in relation to colour pattern morph, sex, and the relationship between female and egg parameters. There was a marked sexual dimorphism in the balance of the two alkaloids, with adaline predominating in females and adalinine predominating in males: in males, on average, over 70% of total alkaloid was adalinine. Females had a lower proportion of adalinine (< 10%) than their eggs (> 15%) and relationships between egg alkaloid and female alkaloid or fecundity were weak or non-existent. Colour pattern morph had a borderline significant relationship with adaline concentration and total alkaloid concentration, which could be further explored with laboratory reared individuals. The sexual dimorphism in alkaloid content, which seems likely due to differences in synthesis, might be related to their relative costs to the two sexes and might provide insight into the evolution of alkaloid diversity in ladybirds.