Pyrazines as warning odour components in the Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and in moths of the genera Zygaena and Amata (Lepidoptera) |
| |
Authors: | MIRIAM ROTHSCHILD BARRY P MOORE W VANCE BROWN |
| |
Institution: | Ashton Wold, Peterborough PE8 5LZ;C.S.I.R.O., Division of Entomology, G.P.O. Box 1700, Canberra, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | 2-Methoxy-3-alkylpyrazines have been identified as odour components in Danaus plexippus, Zygaena lonicerae and an Australian Amata species, by means of coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, with selected ion monitoring. Wide variability in pyrazine content was observed with D. plexippus and this was correlated with similar variability in the larval food-plants, Asclepias spp., which are presumed to be the odour sources for this butterfly. The importance of pyrazines in the biology of aposematic insects and their role as ingredients of a generalized warning system are discussed. |
| |
Keywords: | 2-methoxy-e-alkylpyrazines— warning colours— Lepidoptera— Danaus plexippus— Zygaena lonicerae— Amata— Asclepias— mimicry |
|
|