Iridoid glycoside content of Euphydryas anicia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and its major hostplant, Besseya plantaginea (Scrophulariaceae), at a high plains Colorado site
The checker spot butterfly, Euphydryas anicia , utilizes mainly Besseya plantaginea and only occasionally Castilleja integra as a larval host-plant at Michigan Hill, a few kilometers from a site where C. integra is used by over 90% of the butterflies. The B. plantaginea leaves that are consumed cont...
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Published in: | Journal of chemical ecology 1990-01, Vol.16 (1), p.187-197 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | eng |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The checker spot butterfly, Euphydryas anicia , utilizes mainly Besseya plantaginea and only occasionally Castilleja integra as a larval host-plant at Michigan Hill, a few kilometers from a site where C. integra is used by over 90% of the butterflies. The B. plantaginea leaves that are consumed contain 9-22% iridoid glycosides, composed mainly of catalpol and catalpol esters, while larvae from the same plants contain 6-18% iridoids, mainly catalpol and no esters. Field-collected adult butterflies contain 0.5-4.3% iridoids. Laboratory reared adults secrete iridoids in the meconium upon eclosion and retain similar amounts. The adults and meconium iridoid content is considerably lower than in the larvae, and metabolism in the pupal stage may be occurring. |
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ISSN: | 0098-0331 1573-1561 |