The biological roles of pyrazines: evidence for a warning odour function

Recently it has been shown that pyrazines are associated with many aposematic, chemically defended insects. We have demonstrated that naive hatchling chicks, when offered drinking water to which 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine is added, develop a neophobic 'alerting' reaction. The birds are not only capable of forming a conditioned aversion to the pyrazine when it is paired with quinine sulphate but they can also detect it from a distance probably by olfaction. This suggests that birds, a major group of insect predators, can interpret pyrazines as alerting or warning signals. The relationship of pyrazines with other alerting signals, and their evocative qualities are discussed.     

Effect of swine lymphocyte antigen haplotypes on birth and weaning weights in pigs

Birth weights of 708 live piglets and weaning weights of 566 piglets were used to investigate the effect of the swine lymphocyte antigen (SLA) complex on these traits in Large White pigs. Piglets were from litters of a long-term selection experiment to measure response for selection to increase litter size. SLA haplotypes were determined using conventional class I antisera. A total of 14 haplotypes were detected. The effect of SLA haplotype on birth and weaning weights was investigated using a statistical model that included the effects of experimental group, sire, dam, sex and SLA haplotype. Results indicated that SLA class I haplotype 13.1.3 increased birth weights (P less than 0.10) and significantly increased weaning weights (P less than 0.01). This effect of haplotype 13.1.3 on weaning weight was 605 +/- 215 g (0.3 standard deviations). SLA class I homozygosity did not appear to affect birth and weaning weights. These results suggest that the SLA complex plays an important role in early growth in the pig and that further study of SLA effects on growth and reproduction are warranted.     

Reactions of various predators to insects storing heart poisons (cardiac glycosides) in their tissues

Notes are given of experiments in which mammals and birds were fed with insects which sequester and store cardiac glycosides, and the insensi-tivity of the quail (Coturnix japonicus Tern.) to these substances is recorded. The variation in predators' reactions to toxic insects is discussed.     

Carotenoids and bile pigments in Danaid and swallowtail butterflies

The carotenoids found in adult kite swallowtails ( Graphium spp.) and the Danaid glassy tigers ( Ideopsis, Tirumala and Parantica ), butterflies with exposed blue/green pigmented wing membranes (which contain pterobilins) and a modified scale vestiture, were compared with those of related species of Papilios and Danaids with concealed wing membranes an an entire scale vestiture. It was found that both the kite swallowtails contained only lutein, and even lacked β-carotene, the first known instance among butterflies. This was presumably due to selective storage by the larva since the food-plant was found to be rich in varied carotenoids. A possible link between the high concentration of pterobilins in the wing membrane and the lack of carotenoids is discussed.     

A danaid mullerian mimic, Euploea core amymone (Cramer) lacking cardenolides in the pupal and adult stages

Euploea core amymone , a Mullerian Mimic, when reared on Serium oleander and Asclepias curassavica , stores emetic cardiac glycosides only in the larval stages, and not as pupa and adult. Danaus plexippus erippus. which exhibits less cardioactivity if tested on the isolated rat heart than E. c. amymone , nevertheless stores them at all three stages of development; polar cardenolides not present in its food plant A. curassavica , were found in the pupa and imago.