THE EVOLUTION OF HOST-PLANT USE AND SEQUESTRATION IN THE LEAF BEETLE GENUS PHRATORA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE).

Leaf beetles in the genus Phratora differ in host plant use and in the chemical composition of their larval defensive secretion. Most species specialize on either poplars or willows (family Salicaceae), but two species feed on birch (family Betulaceae). Phratora vitellinae utilizes salicylates from the host plant to produce its larval secretion, which contains salicylaldehyde, while other Phratora species produce an autogenous secretion.