While the glucosinolate-myrosinase system is an important defense of plants against generalist herbivores and fungi, several specialist insects are not repelled by these secondary metabolites. In contrast, in these adapted herbivores glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products are involved in host plant finding and acceptance. The turnip sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) feeds on various glucosinolate containing plant species. Larvae of A. rosae release readily droplets of hemolymph when being attacked by predators, which act as an effective defense. Chemical analysis revealed that glucosinolates from the host plant are sequestered into the hemolymph. According to the plant species larvae fed on, the same glucosinolate pattern as in the plant could be found in the hemolymph. However, concentration of glucosinolates increases rapidly in the larval hemolymph and exceeds the concentration present in the host leaves by far.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Tenthredinidae Athalia rosae (turnip sawfly)
Species 2: Brassicaceae Sinapis alba (mustard)
Keywords: sequestration, defense
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