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Effectiveness of the defence mechanism of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), against predation by lizards

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

L. Vlieger ,
P.M. Brakefield  and
C. Müller
L. Vlieger
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
P.M. Brakefield
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
C. Müller*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, D-97082 Würzburg, Germany
*
*Fax: + 49 / 931 888 62 35 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae Linnaeus, is a pest on cruciferous crops. Larvae sequester secondary plant compounds, namely glucosinolates, in their haemolymph. When attacked, their integument is easily disrupted and a droplet of haemolymph is exuded (‘easy bleeding’). This has been shown to be an effective, chemical-based, defence against invertebrate predators. The efficiency of this proposed defence was tested against a vertebrate predator, using groups of the iguanid lizard Anolis carolinensis Voigt as a model predator. Caterpillars of Pieris rapae Linnaeus and Pieris brassicae Linnaeus served as control prey species that do not sequester glucosinolates. Lizards attacked far fewer sawfly larvae than pierid caterpillars. Several of the sawfly larvae were rejected after an initial attack, demonstrating unpalatability to the lizards, while the Pieris larvae were not rejected. However, P. rapae larvae topically treated with extracts of haemolymph of A. rosae had no deterrent effect on the lizards and no avoidance learning occurred over a period of two weeks. Adult sawflies do not easy bleed but have glucosinolates carried over from the larval stage. Lizards attacked them at a higher rate than larvae and they were never rejected. The results suggest that for the defensive effectiveness of the pest sawfly species against vertebrates the chemical cue is not necessarily sufficient. Movement and colour may be important additional factors triggering the behaviour of vertebrate predators.

Type
Review Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 94 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 283 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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