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Evolutionary strategies of chemical defense in aposematic butterflies: Cyanogenesis in Asteraceae-feeding American Acraeinae

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Summary

American Acraeinae butterflies often ingest large amounts of dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from their Asteraceae hostplants in both larval and adult stages, but do not normally store these compounds for defence, instead biosynthesizing large amounts of the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin in all stages. This defence syndrome (rejection of plant toxins andde novo synthesis of protective chemicals) is considered to be the most evolved among aposematic (unpalatable mimicry-model) butterflies, as are the Acraeinae and Heliconiini which also synthesize cyanogens. Storage or minimal processing of larval hostplant-derived defensive chemicals is widespread and characterizes the most primitive model groups; an intermediate series (Danainae/Ithomiinae) also obtains the principal defensive chemicals (PAs) from plants, but mostly in the adult stage. These syndromes are discussed and contrasted with the pattern seen in Chrysomelidae beetles, wherede novo synthesis is widespread and considered primitive.

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  1. Laboratório de Ecologia Química, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, CP 6109, 13081, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Keith S. Brown Jr. & Ronaldo B. Francini

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  1. Keith S. Brown Jr.
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  2. Ronaldo B. Francini
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Brown, K.S., Francini, R.B. Evolutionary strategies of chemical defense in aposematic butterflies: Cyanogenesis in Asteraceae-feeding American Acraeinae. Chemoecology 1, 52–56 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325228

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325228

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