Novel chemistry of abdominal defensive glands of nymphalid butterfly Agraulis vanillae.
Abdominal defensive glands of both sexes of the Gulf fritillary butterfly, Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus) (Nymphalidae:Heliconiinae) emit a pronounced odor when disturbed. We have identified 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one; oleic, palmitic, and stearic esters of the corresponding alcohol 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol; hexadecyl acetate; 1,16-hexadecanediol diacetate; and 1,15-hexade-canediol diacetate in the glandular exudate. Since we have determined that free-flying birds or birds in a butterfly conservatory discriminate against A. vanillae as prey, we suggest that the constituents in the glands may play a defensive role against potential avian predators.
Ross
G N
GN
Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Fales
H M
HM
Lloyd
H A
HA
Jones
T
T
Sokoloski
E A
EA
Marshall-Batty
K
K
Blum
M S
MS
D000005:Abdomen; D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011235:Predatory Behavior
D000085:Acetates