Monoterpene hydrocarbons may serve as antipredation defensive compounds in Boisea trivittata, the boxelder bug.
Boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittata, are deterred from predation by green anoles (Anolis carolinensis). Hydrodistillation and GC-MS analysis reveals B. trivittata to contain the volatile monoterpene hydrocarbons beta-pinene (83.9%), limonene (14.7%), myrcene (0.8%), and (E)-beta-ocimene (0.6%). The presence of these antifeedant volatile chemicals may serve to provide some protection of boxelder bugs from predation.
Palazzo
Maria C
MC
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 35899, USA.
Setzer
William N
WN
D000818:Animals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D039821:Monoterpenes