Abstract
Larvae of the chrysomelid beetleGastrophysa cyanea produce a defensive secretion in their eversible thoracic and abdominal glands that is an effective repellent for small predators such as fire ants. This secretion is composed primarily of chrysomelidial, 2-(2-formyl-3-methyl-2-cyclopentenyl)propanal, and a compound tentatively identified as its enol lactone. Adaptations that optimize the effectiveness of the larval defensive exudate are discussed.
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Blum, M.S., Wallace, J.B., Duffield, R.M. et al. Chrysomelidial in the defensive secretion of the leaf beetleGastrophysa cyanea Melsheimer. J Chem Ecol 4, 47–53 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988259
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988259