Defensive secretion of two notodontid caterpillars (Schizura unicornis, S. badia)

Athula B. Attygalle, Scott R. Smedley, Jerrold Meinwald, Thomas Eisner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cervical gland secretion of larvae of Schizura unicornis and S. badia (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) contains formic acid, acetic acid, and a mixture of lipophilic compounds, including 2-alkanones, 2-alkanols, and formates of the alkanols. In S. unicornis, the secretion also contains several ω-monounsaturated analogs of the alcohols, ketones, and formates. The absolute configuration of two of the alcohols (2-tridecanol and 2-pentadecanol) was established as S in both species. The larvae spray their secretion when physically disturbed, aiming it accurately in the direction of the offending agent.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2089-2104
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Chemical Ecology
Volume19
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1993

Keywords

  • (5)-2-tridecanol
  • 2-pentadecanone
  • 2-tridecanone
  • 2-tridecyl formate
  • Lepidoptera
  • Notodontidae
  • Schizura
  • defensive secretion
  • formic acid

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