A defensive steroidal pyrone in the Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca L. (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) |
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| Authors: | JOHN TYLER WILLIAM MCKINNON GWYN A. LORD PHILIP J. HILTON |
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| Affiliation: | 5 Woodfield, Lacey Green, Bucks, U.K.;, Renal Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, London, U.K.;and MRC Bioanalytical Science Group, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck, London, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Chemical defences against predators appear to be widespread amongst fireflies but, until now, the substances involved have only been identified in a few species, all of them from North America. In the present study, evidence is presented that a similar toxin may be present in a Eurasian species, Lampyris noctiluca L. |
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| Keywords: | Chemical defence Coleoptera: Lampyridae Lampyris noctiluca lucibufagins steroidal pyrones |
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