TY - JOUR
T1 - New defensive chemical data for ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
T2 - Interpretations in a phylogenetic framework
AU - Will, Kipling W.
AU - Attygalle, Athula B.
AU - Herath, Kithsiri
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - First reports of major defensive chemicals for ground beetles representing four tribes include: Morionini (formic acid), Dercylini (methacrylic and tiglic acids), Catapieseini (formic acid and decyl acetate) and Perigonini (formic acid and decyl acetate). Multiple species from Loxandrini were sampled and, shown to contain formic acid, not salicylaldehyde as previously reported. Several hexenoic acid compounds were found in the clivinine genus Schizogenius representing a third class of chemicals for that tribe. Salicylaldehyde was found for the first time in a species of Oodini. Additional species from Pterostichini, Patrobini and Odacanthini were sampled and the results were found to be consistent with previously published reports. The taxonomic distribution of defensive secretions is reviewed for tribes across the family Carabidae. The simultaneous occurrence of hydrocarbons and formic acid is noted in phylogenetically more derived carabids. By mapping chemical classes onto a phylogenetic hypothesis, it is shown that formic acid or other relatively strong irritants are correlated with tribes having a high species diversity in tropical regions, whereas tribes exhibiting higher diversity in temperate regions use milder saturated/unsaturated carboxylic acids. Based on this phylogenetic interpretation, the evolution and maintenance of formic acid is interpreted as the result of predation pressures and possibly the evolution of chemical mimicry. (C) 2000 The Linnean Society of London.
AB - First reports of major defensive chemicals for ground beetles representing four tribes include: Morionini (formic acid), Dercylini (methacrylic and tiglic acids), Catapieseini (formic acid and decyl acetate) and Perigonini (formic acid and decyl acetate). Multiple species from Loxandrini were sampled and, shown to contain formic acid, not salicylaldehyde as previously reported. Several hexenoic acid compounds were found in the clivinine genus Schizogenius representing a third class of chemicals for that tribe. Salicylaldehyde was found for the first time in a species of Oodini. Additional species from Pterostichini, Patrobini and Odacanthini were sampled and the results were found to be consistent with previously published reports. The taxonomic distribution of defensive secretions is reviewed for tribes across the family Carabidae. The simultaneous occurrence of hydrocarbons and formic acid is noted in phylogenetically more derived carabids. By mapping chemical classes onto a phylogenetic hypothesis, it is shown that formic acid or other relatively strong irritants are correlated with tribes having a high species diversity in tropical regions, whereas tribes exhibiting higher diversity in temperate regions use milder saturated/unsaturated carboxylic acids. Based on this phylogenetic interpretation, the evolution and maintenance of formic acid is interpreted as the result of predation pressures and possibly the evolution of chemical mimicry. (C) 2000 The Linnean Society of London.
KW - Chemical ecology
KW - Formic acid
KW - Phylogeny
KW - Pygidial glands
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U2 - 10.1006/bijl.2000.0456
DO - 10.1006/bijl.2000.0456
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033730910
SN - 0024-4066
VL - 71
SP - 459
EP - 481
JO - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
JF - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
IS - 3
ER -