Morphogenetic effects of alkaloidal metabolites on the development of the coremata in the salt marsh moth, Estigmene acrea (Dru.) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae).

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) play a fundamental role in the sexual biology of the salt marsh moth Estigmene acrea. They are precursors for the male courtship pheromone hydroxydanaidal and they stimulate the growth and development of male pheromone-disseminating organs called coremata. Yet larval Estigmene are polyphagous and feed only sporadically on PA-containing plants and those they utilize contain different classes of PAs.

If you've got it, flaunt it: ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, Estigmene acrea.

Plant-derived pyrrolizidine alkaloids play an important role in the biology of the salt marsh moth, Estigmene acrea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). They are phagostimulants for larvae and they stimulate the growth and development of adult male androconial organs called coremata. In this study, we have shown that the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline N-oxide (MNO) fed to larvae also affects the courtship behavior of adult males.