Eisner T, Eisner M, Attygalle A B, Deyrup M, Meinwald J
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Feb 3;95(3):1108-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.3.1108.
The larva of the phengodid beetle, Phengodes laticollis, feeds on the millipede, Floridobolus penneri, without risking exposure to the repellent benzoquinones ordinarily ejected by the millipede from its defensive glands when attacked. The phengodid subdues the millipede by piercing the millipede's integument with its hollow sickle-shaped mandibles and apparently injecting gastric fluid. The infusion abruptly paralyzes the millipede, which thereby is prevented from discharging its glands. As the phengodid then imbibes the liquefied systemic contents of the dead millipede, the millipede's benzoquinones remain harmlessly confined to the glands, prevented from diffusing into the millipede's body cavity by the glands' impervious cuticular lining. At the end of the meal only the millipede's skeletal armor and glandular sacs remain uneaten. Analysis of such discarded sacs showed these to contain benzoquinones in amounts commensurate with those present in replete glands of living millipedes.
扁甲科甲虫Phengodes laticollis的幼虫以千足虫Floridobolus penneri为食，不会像千足虫在受到攻击时通常从其防御腺中喷出驱避性苯醌那样有暴露风险。扁甲科甲虫用其空心的镰刀状下颚刺穿千足虫的外皮，并显然注入胃液，从而制服千足虫。这种注入会使千足虫突然麻痹，进而阻止其排出腺体分泌物。当扁甲科甲虫随后吸食死亡千足虫液化的全身内容物时，千足虫的苯醌仍无害地局限于腺体中，由于腺体不透水的角质层衬里，阻止了苯醌扩散到千足虫的体腔中。进食结束时，只剩下千足虫的骨骼外壳和腺囊未被吃掉。对这些丢弃的腺囊进行分析表明，其中所含苯醌的量与活千足虫充满分泌物的腺体中的量相当。
