Morphological Description of Larval Stages of Battus polydamas archidamas, Including Notes on Its Eggs and Defensive Gland

Palma-Onetto, Valeria; Parra, Luís E.; González‐Teuber, Marcia

doi:10.18473/lepi.74i3.a2

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Larvae of the family Papilionidae (Lepidoptera) possess an osmeterium as a central part of their defensive mechanisms. The osmeterium is a Y-shaped eversible organ located dorsally just behind the head 11 , 12 . It possesses two exocrine glands at the base of each arm 5 , 13 , 14 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mode of action, chemistry and defensive efficacy of the osmeterium in the caterpillar Battus polydamas archidamas

Palma-Onetto

Bergmann

González‐Teuber

2023

Sci Rep

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Chemical secretions are one of the main defensive mechanisms in insects. The osmeterium is a unique organ in larvae of Papilionidae (Lepidoptera), which is everted upon disturbance, secreting odoriferous volatiles. Here, using larvae of the specialized butterfly Battus polydamas archidamas (Papilionidae: Troidini), we aimed to understand the mode of action of the osmeterium, the chemical composition and origin of the secretion, as well as its defensive efficiency against a natural predator. We described osmeterium’s morphology, ultramorphology, structure, ultrastructure, and chemistry. Additionally, behavioral assays of the osmeterial secretion against a predator were developed. We showed that the osmeterium is composed of tubular arms (made up by epidermal cells) and of two ellipsoid glands, which possess a secretory function. The eversion and retraction of the osmeterium are dependent on the internal pressure generated by the hemolymph, and by longitudinal muscles that connect the abdomen with the apex of the osmeterium. Germacrene A was the main compound present in the secretion. Minor monoterpenes (sabinene and ß-pinene) and sesquiterpenes ((E)-β-caryophyllene, selina-3,7(11)-diene, and other some unidentified compounds) were also detected. Only sesquiterpenes (with the exception of (E)-β-caryophyllene) are likely to be synthesized in the osmeterium-associated glands. Furthermore, the osmeterial secretion proved to deter predatory ants. Our results suggest that the osmeterium, besides serving as an aposematic warning for enemies, is an efficient chemical defense, with its own synthesis of irritant volatiles.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mode of action, chemistry and defensive efficacy of the osmeterium in the caterpillar Battus polydamas archidamas

Palma-Onetto

Bergmann

González‐Teuber

2023

Sci Rep

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“…Bhutanitis ludlowi has mechanism to protect themselves and avoid from predations such as odour, camouflaged colorations and poisons which might have gain after feeding on host plant. A study carried out in Chile (2020) on larva and egg of pipevine Swallowtial found that larvae feed exclusively on highly toxic plants of the genus Aristolochia from which they sequester toxins and later used as defense mechanism to protect from predators (Palma-Onetto et al 2020).…”

Section: Enemies Of Bhutanitis Ludlowi and Its Conservation Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology of Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

et al. 2023

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It was in 1933–34 that the first discovery of Bhutanitis ludlowi was made by plant explorer Frank Ludlow and George Sheriff at Tobrang, upper part of Trashiyangtse valley, Bhutan. It was rediscovered after a lapse of 76 years in 2009 by Bhutanese forester Karma Wangdi. Bhutanitis ludlowi is native to Trashiyangtse and occurs in few pockets of areas in northeastern part of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS). There has been no report which described complete life cycle of Bhutanitis ludlowi till date. Listed in CITES appendix II, the endemic species is also the first butterfly species to be included under Schedule I of FNCRR of Bhutan, making it a totally protected species in Bhutan. For the first time a complete life cycle stages of Bhutanitis ludlowi was recorded at BWS on the host plant Aristolochia griffithii Hook.f. & Thomson ex Duch in ex situ environment. A greenhouse with dimensions of 12 X 5 X 3 m was constructed and a thriving habitat was created artificially through establishment of Aristolochia griffithii nursery inside the greenhouse. The eggs were brought down to the new environment at an elevation of 1,752 m from their natural habitat (elevation of 2,200 m). The eggs were incubated in the greenhouse with host plants in ex-situ conditions. Eggs incubated inside the greenhouse were examined at eight hour intervals daily (twice a day: 0900 h and 1700 h) to record physical changes in eggs such as colours. Bhutanitis ludlowi is univoltine brood where the life cycle completes in 365–367 days with egg hatching (Average = 16 days; SD = 2), larva (Avg. of 174 days SD 3), pupa (174 days, SD 1.53)) and adults emerged after 366 days. Predators of Bhutanitis ludlowi include spider, wasps, praying mantis, snails, and ants. Bhutanitis ludlowi protects themselves by avoiding predators through mechanisms like odour, camouflaged colorations, and excretion of poisons. Advocacy programs on its conservation importance and formation of community conservation support groups to protect its habitats is seen as one of the priority activities in the identified range of Bhutanitis ludlowi.

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“…Battus polydamas archidamas (Tribe: Troidini) is the only Papilionidae species present in Chile. Its larvae are dark burgundy in color with an orange osmeterium and yellowish hemolymph [12]. Aposematic larvae of this species feed exclusively on plants of the genus Aristolochia, which contain toxic compounds that include benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and aristolochic acids [50,51].…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Larvae of the family Papilionidae (Lepidoptera) have developed the osmeterium as a central part of its defensive mechanism. The osmeterium is a Y-shaped eversible organ located dorsally just behind the head [11,12]. It possesses two exocrine glands at the base of each arm [5,13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Battus polydamas archidamas (Papilionidae: Troidini) is the only Papilionidae species present in Chile, and its larvae are known for everting its osmeterium upon disturbance [12]. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach was used to understand the mode of action of the osmeterium, the chemical composition of the secretion, the origin of secreted VOCs (either the gland itself or a by-product of the hemolymph), and its defensive role against a natural predator.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Defensive eversible organ in swallowtail larvae: morphology, structure, chemistry and defensive efficacy

Palma-Onetto

Bergmann

González‐Teuber

2022

Preprint

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Chemical secretions are one of the main defensive mechanisms in insects. The osmeterium is a unique organ in larvae of Papilionidae (Lepidoptera), which is everted upon disturbance, secreting odoriferous volatiles. Here, using larvae of the specialized butterfly Battus polydamas archidamas (Papilionidae: Troidini), we aimed to understand the mode of action of the osmeterium, the chemical composition of the secretion, the origin of the secreted volatiles, as well as its defensive efficacy against a natural predator. We described the morphology, ultramorphology, structure, ultrastructure, and chemistry of this defensive organ. Additionally, behavioral assays of the osmeterial secretion against a predator were developed. We showed that the osmeterium is composed of tubular arms (made up by epidermal cells) and of two ellipsoid glands, which possess a secretory function. The eversion and retraction of the osmeterium are dependent on the internal pressure generated by the hemolymph, and by longitudinal muscles that connect the abdomen with the apex of the osmeterium. Germacrene A was the main compound present in the secretion. Minor amounts of monoterpenes (sabinene and ß-pinene) and sesquiterpenes ((E)-β-caryophyllene, selina-3,7(11)-diene, and other not identified compounds) were also identified. Only sesquiterpenes (with the exception of ((E)-β-caryophyllene) are likely to be synthesized in the osmeterium-associated glands. Furthermore, the osmeterial secretion showed an effective repellent effect on predators. Our results suggest that the osmeterium, besides serving as an aposematic warning for enemies, is an efficient chemical defense, with its own synthesis of irritant volatiles.

show abstract

Morphological Description of Larval Stages of Battus polydamas archidamas, Including Notes on Its Eggs and Defensive Gland

Cited by 4 publications

References 40 publications

Mode of action, chemistry and defensive efficacy of the osmeterium in the caterpillar Battus polydamas archidamas

Mode of action, chemistry and defensive efficacy of the osmeterium in the caterpillar Battus polydamas archidamas

Biology of Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

Defensive eversible organ in swallowtail larvae: morphology, structure, chemistry and defensive efficacy

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