PMID: 9448293Mar 14, 1998Paper

Rendering the inedible edible: circumvention of a millipede's chemical defense by a predaceous beetle larva

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
T EisnerJ Meinwald

Abstract

The larva of the phengodid beetle, Phengodes laticollis, feeds on the millipede, Floridobolus penneri, without risking exposure to the repellent benzoquinones ordinarily ejected by the millipede from its defensive glands when attacked. The phengodid subdues the millipede by piercing the millipede's integument with its hollow sickle-shaped mandibles and apparently injecting gastric fluid. The infusion abruptly paralyzes the millipede, which thereby is prevented from discharging its glands. As the phengodid then imbibes the liquefied systemic contents of the dead millipede, the millipede's benzoquinones remain harmlessly confined to the glands, prevented from diffusing into the millipede's body cavity by the glands' impervious cuticular lining. At the end of the meal only the millipede's skeletal armor and glandular sacs remain uneaten. Analysis of such discarded sacs showed these to contain benzoquinones in amounts commensurate with those present in replete glands of living millipedes.

References

Aug 1, 1987·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·K Peschke, T Eisner
Oct 1, 1993·Journal of Natural Products·A B AttygalleT Eisner
Jul 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T EisnerJ Conner
Apr 1, 1976·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T Eisner, J Dean

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Citations

Sep 8, 2011·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Michael HeethoffGünther Raspotnig
May 15, 2012·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Michaela Bodner, Günther Raspotnig
Jan 23, 2009·Biology Letters·Trond H LarsenFrançois Génier
Apr 1, 2014·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Robin KundrataLadislav Bocak
Apr 2, 2014·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Henrik EnghoffMaurizio G Paoletti
Feb 19, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T Eisner, M Eisner
Apr 18, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J MeinwaldT Eisner
May 10, 2011·Journal of Ethnopharmacology·Rosana CrespoMargarita G de Bravo
Dec 16, 2006·Current Microbiology·Gérald ZabulonJean-Claude Thomas
Mar 10, 2017·Thrombosis and Haemostasis·Ning LuanRuiqiang Zheng
Jul 25, 2009·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology· Hemlata, Tasneem Fatma
Aug 20, 2009·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·M Luciana VillaverdeM Patricia Juárez

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