捕食性昆虫幼虫对一种后天获得的物质（胭脂红酸）的防御性利用。

Defensive use of an acquired substance (carminic acid) by predaceous insect larvae.

作者信息

Eisner T, Ziegler R, McCormick J L, Eisner M, Hoebeke E R, Meinwald J

机构信息

Section of Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.

出版信息

Experientia. 1994 Jun 15;50(6):610-5. doi: 10.1007/BF01921733.

DOI:10.1007/BF01921733

PMID:8020623

Abstract

Larvae of two insects, a coccinellid beetle (Hyperaspis trifurcata) and a chamaemyiid fly (Leucopis sp.), feed on cochineal insects and appropriate their prey's defensive chemical, carminic acid, for protective purposes of their own. H. trifurcata discharges the chemical with droplets of blood (hemolymph) that it emits when disturbed; Leucopis sp. ejects the compound with rectal fluid. Ants are thwarted by these defenses, which are compared with the previously-described defense of a pyralid caterpillar (Laetilia coccidivora) that disgorges carminic acid-laden crop fluid. The defensive fluid of all three larvae contains carminic acid at concentrations spanning a range (0.2-6.2%) proven deterrent to ants. Many insects are known to appropriate defensive substances from plants. Insects that acquire defensive chemicals from animal sources may be relatively rare.

摘要

两种昆虫的幼虫，一种是瓢虫（三裂臀瓢虫），另一种是隐翅虫蝇（白隐翅虫属），以胭脂虫为食，并摄取其猎物的防御性化学物质——胭脂红酸，用于自身的保护。三裂臀瓢虫在受到干扰时会通过排出含血淋巴的液滴来释放这种化学物质；白隐翅虫属则通过直肠液排出这种化合物。蚂蚁会被这些防御措施所阻碍，这些防御措施可与之前描述的一种螟蛾幼虫（嗜蚧蕾苔蛾）的防御措施相比较，该螟蛾幼虫会吐出富含胭脂红酸的嗉囊液。这三种幼虫的防御液中都含有胭脂红酸，其浓度范围（0.2 - 6.2%）已被证明对蚂蚁具有威慑作用。已知许多昆虫会从植物中摄取防御性物质。从动物来源获取防御性化学物质的昆虫可能相对较少。