Hydroquinones from defensive secretion of a giant Pacific millipede, Acladocricus setigerus (Diplopoda: Spirobolida)

Xiaogang Wu, Donald W. Buden, Athula B. Attygalle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence of considerable quantities of hydroquinones including hydroquinone, 2-methylhydroquinone, 2,3- dimethoxyhydroquinone, 2-methoxy-3-methylhydroquinone, and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylhydroquinone renders the defensive secretion of Acladocricus setigerus (Silvestri, 1897) significantly different from that of other quinone-producing millipedes. In addition, two hitherto undescribed compounds, namely, 2,3-dimethoxy-5- methylhydroquinone and 2-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyphenol, were characterized from the defensive secretion. However, it is uncertain if the latter compound is formed after the release of the secretion. The two major compounds, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, constitute about 75% of the defensive fluid. Furthermore, hydrocarbons, which are typically present in the secretions of most other arthropods that use benzoquinones as repellents, are notably absent in the secretion of A. setigerus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-138
Number of pages8
JournalChemoecology
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007

Keywords

  • 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylhydroquinone
  • 2-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyphenol
  • Acladocricus setigerus
  • Benzoquinones
  • Chemical defense
  • Chuuk
  • Hydroquinones
  • Micronesia
  • Millipede

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