Characterization of Physical and Chemical Defenses in the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

The invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand, Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Adelgidae) causes significant mortality to eastern and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carrière and T. caroliniana Engelmann, respectively) throughout the eastern United States. Adelges tsugae produces vast qua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 2014-06, Vol.40 (6), p.560-568
Main Authors: Jones, Anne C, Mullins, Donald E, Jones, Tappey H, Salom, Scott M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adelges tsugae
Adelgidae
adults
Agriculture
Animals
Anthracenes - analysis
anthraquinones
Anthraquinones - analysis
Anthraquinones - chemistry
Biochemistry
Biological Control Agents
Biological Microscopy
biomass
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Chemical ecology
Coleoptera
Coleoptera - physiology
Defense mechanisms
Ecology
eggs
energy
Entomology
Hemiptera
Hemiptera - chemistry
Hemiptera - physiology
Insects
instars
Introduced Species
Life Cycle Stages
Life Sciences
mass spectrometry
mortality
Nonnative species
Plant biology
Predatory Behavior
Sternorrhyncha
Trees
Tsuga
Tsuga canadensis
Tsuga caroliniana
Waxes - analysis
Waxes - chemistry
Waxes - metabolism
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Description
Summary:The invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand, Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Adelgidae) causes significant mortality to eastern and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carrière and T. caroliniana Engelmann, respectively) throughout the eastern United States. Adelges tsugae produces vast quantities of a wax covering that surrounds most of the instars as well as the adult and eggs. Using direct probe EI mass spectrometry, this wax covering was characterized as a diketoester wax, 17-oxohexatriacontanyl 11-oxotriacontanoate, and accounted for ≈ 42 % of A. tsugae total biomass. The presence of the anthraquinone, chrysophanol, and its precursor anthrone, chrysarobin, in A. tsugae has only been briefly described. Further study confirmed these compounds in all A. tsugae life stages. Additionally, several predatory beetles in use or under consideration as biological control agents for this species appear to ingest and excrete these compounds when feeding on A. tsugae. The production of both a physical and a chemical defense may represent a significant energy investment by A. tsugae.
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1007/s10886-014-0453-x