Chemical egg defense in a green lacewing (Ceraeochrysa smithi)

Thomas Eisner, Athula B. Attygalle, William E. Conner, Maria Eisner, Ellis MacLeod, Jerrold Meinwald

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

The green lacewing Ceraeochrysa smithi (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), like other members of its family, lays its eggs on stalks, but it is unusual in that it coats these stalks with droplets of an oily fluid. The liquid consists of a mixture of fatty acids, an ester, and a series of straight- chain aldehydes. Relative to the eggs of a congeneric chrysopid that lacks stalk fluid, the eggs of C. smithi proved well protected against ants. Components of the fluid, in an assay with a cockroach, proved potently irritant. Following emergence from the egg, C. smithi larvae imbibe the stalk fluid, thereby possibly deriving nutritive benefit, defensive advantage, or both.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3280-3283
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Apr 1996

Keywords

  • Chrysopidae
  • Neuroptera
  • aldehydes
  • fatty acids
  • parental investment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chemical egg defense in a green lacewing (Ceraeochrysa smithi)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this