Sexually transmitted chemical defense in a moth
            <i>(Utetheisa ornatrix)</i>

González, Andrés; Rossini, Cármen; Eisner, Maria; Eisner, Thomas

doi:10.1073/pnas.96.10.5570

Cited by 97 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Both a coccinellid beetle and an ant have been shown to reject alkaloid-laden Utetheisa eggs (24,25). In addition, the alkaloids protect Utetheisa adults and larvae against spiders (18,26,27). The strategies of survival and reproduction are inexorably linked in Utetheisa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical defense against predation in an insect egg

Eisner

Eisner²,

Rossini³

et al. 2000

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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120

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The larva of the green lacewing (Ceraeochrysa cubana) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) is a natural predator of eggs of Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae), a moth that sequesters pyrrolizidine alkaloids from its larval foodplant (Fabaceae, Crotalaria spp.). Utetheisa eggs are ordinarily endowed with the alkaloid. Alkaloidfree Utetheisa eggs, produced experimentally, are pierced by the larva with its sharp tubular jaws and sucked out. Alkaloid-laden eggs, in contrast, are rejected. When attacking an Utetheisa egg cluster (numbering on average 20 eggs), the larva subjects it to an inspection process. It prods and͞or pierces a small number of eggs (on average two to three) and, if these contain alkaloid, it passes ''negative judgement'' on the remainder of the cluster and turns away. Such generalization on the part of the larva makes sense, because the eggs within clusters differ little in alkaloid content. There is, however, considerable between-cluster variation in egg alkaloid content, so clusters in nature can be expected to range widely in palatability. To check each cluster for acceptability must therefore be adaptive for the larva, just as it must be adaptive for Utetheisa to lay its eggs in large clusters and to apportion alkaloid evenly among eggs of a cluster.Ceraeochrysa cubana ͉ Chrysopidae ͉ Utetheisa ornatrix ͉ Arctiidae ͉ pyrrolizidine alkaloid T he moth Utetheisa ornatrix (family Arctiidae) (henceforth called Utetheisa) endows its eggs with pyrrolizidine alkaloids [henceforth called alkaloid(s)]. It sequesters the chemicals as a larva from its foodplants, legumes of the genus Crotalaria (family Fabaceae), and retains them through metamorphosis into the adult stage. Both parents contribute to the egg endowment. The male transmits alkaloid to the female with the sperm package at mating, and the female allocates a portion of this gift, together with a share of her own alkaloid, to the eggs (1).Here we present evidence that the alkaloids protect the eggs against a natural enemy, the larva of the green lacewing, Ceraeochrysa cubana (family Chrysopidae) ( Fig. 1 A and B). Specifically, we demonstrate that (i) the larva, in laboratory tests, rejects alkaloid-containing Utetheisa eggs, while avidly consuming alkaloid-free eggs offered as controls; (ii) the larva exercises this discrimination in the field as well; (iii) the larva is more strongly deterred by the N-oxide form of the alkaloid than the free base form; (iv) the alkaloid in Utetheisa eggs occurs mainly in the N-oxide form; (v) the eggs in a given cluster are equally endowed with alkaloid; and (vi) the larva seems to act on this information: it abandons a cluster, no matter what the cluster size, if the first few eggs it samples are distasteful. Materials and MethodsThis study was done at our Cornell laboratories and at the Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Highlands County, FL.Experimental Animals. Utetheisa occur at the Archbold Station, often in abundance, in association with stands of Crotalaria mucronata, the major local foodplant. ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical defense against predation in an insect egg

Eisner

Eisner²,

Rossini³

et al. 2000

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

120

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“…The batches of 10 eggs selected for analysis were individually extracted overnight in buffer solution (12). The extracts were individually centrifuged for 10 min and analyzed by HPLC as described in ref.…”

Section: Parasitizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant-derived pyrrolizidine alkaloid protects eggs of a moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) against a parasitoid wasp (Trichogramma ostriniae)

Bezzerides

Yong

Bezzerides

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA), sequestered by the moth Utetheisa ornatrix from its larval food plant, is transmitted by both males and females to the eggs. Males confer PA on the female by seminal infusion, and females pass this gift, together with PA that they themselves procured as larvae, to the eggs. Here we show that PA protects the eggs against parasitization by the chalcidoid wasp, Trichogramma ostriniae. Eggs laid subsequent to a first mating of an Utetheisa female receive most of their PA from the female. The amount they receive from the male is insufficient to provide for full protection. However, female Utetheisa are promiscuous and therefore likely to receive PA on a cumulative basis from their male partners. chemical defense ͉ parasitism ͉ Arctiidae ͉ Trichogrammatidae

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“…Moreover, substances in the male ejaculate (nuptial gifts) can increase female lifespan [18,19], female fecundity (see [20] for an overview), and offspring fitness [21,22]. Positive effects of the ejaculate act either directly, by providing extra resources for somatic maintenance of females ( [18] and references therein [19,23]), or indirectly, by protecting the female against predators (e.g., the pyrrolizidine alkaloids transferred by male Utetheisa ornatrix [24]). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cost of Mating: Influences of Life History Traits and Mating Strategies on Lifespan in Two Closely RelatedYponomeutaSpecies

Bakker

Louçã

Roessingh

et al. 2011

International Journal of Zoology

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Theory predicts that in monandrous butterfly species males should not invest in a long lifespan because receptive females quickly disappear from the mating population. In polyandrous species, however, it pays for males to invest in longevity, which increases the number of mating opportunities and thus reproductive fitness. We tested an extension of this idea and compared male and female lifespan of two closely related Yponomeuta species with different degree of polyandry. Our results confirmed the theoretical prediction that male lifespan is fine-tuned to female receptive lifespan; once-mated males and females of both polyandrous species had an equal lifespan. However, the degree of polyandry was not reflected in male relative to female lifespan. The observed similar female and male lifespan could largely be attributed to a dramatic reduction of female lifespan after mating.

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Sexually transmitted chemical defense in a moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)

Cited by 97 publications

References 18 publications

Chemical defense against predation in an insect egg

Chemical defense against predation in an insect egg

Plant-derived pyrrolizidine alkaloid protects eggs of a moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) against a parasitoid wasp (Trichogramma ostriniae)

The Cost of Mating: Influences of Life History Traits and Mating Strategies on Lifespan in Two Closely RelatedYponomeutaSpecies

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