title: Reproductive benefits derived from defensive plant alkaloid possession in an arctiid moth (Utetheisa ornatrix).
abstract: The moth Utetheisa ornatrix (family Arctiidae) depends on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) for defense. It sequesters the toxins as a larva from its food plants (Crotalaria species: family Fabaceae) and retains them through metamorphosis. We report here that PA-possession in the adult female U. ornatrix has a life-shortening effect, suggesting that, by putting the compounds to use, the moth may be incurring a cost. However, PA-possession also induces the female to oviposit at an accelerated rate, so that she does not, by dying earlier, incur a loss in fecundity. We argue that by "compressing" their adult existence into a shorter period, female U. ornatrix may actually accrue benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
authors.forename: Marta L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: del Campo
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smedley
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eisner
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D029864:Crotalaria / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; D014118:Toxins, Biological