Cardenolide content of some leaf- and stem-feeding insects on temperate North American milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1024-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Isman ◽  
S. S. Duffey ◽  
G. G. E. Scudder

The cardenolide content of eight species of insects which feed on the leaves and stems of milk weed (Asclepias spp.) in temperate North America was examined. Cerambycid beetles of the genus Tetraopes contained small quantities of cardenolides. while two genera of chrysomelid beetles, Chrysochus and Labidomera, contained little or no cardenolides in their bodies. All of these insects are thought to be warningly coloured. The cardenolide content of Tetraopes, in contrast with other milkweed herbivores such as the lygaeid bugs Oncopeltus fasciatus and Lygaeus kalmii, appears to be limited by physiological factors, rather than the cardenolide content of the host plant. Cardenolides were not detected in the pupae of an arctiid moth which has an aposematic larva, a cryptic grasshopper, or a cryptic plant hopper, all of which fed on milkweeds known to contain cardenolides. The implication for chemical defense and the position of these insects in mimicry complexes is briefly discussed. It appears that few of the principal milkweed-feeding insects in temperate North America may use host-derived cardenolides as a chemical defense strategy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 999-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Barringer ◽  
Claire M Ciafré

Abstract The spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (White) is an invasive insect spreading throughout southeast Asia and eastern North America. The rapid spread of this species is facilitated by the prevalence of its preferred host, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle), as well as its use of many other host plants. While the spotted lanternfly has been previously reported to use over 65 plant species, most of these reports are from Asia and may not be applicable in North America. Additionally, many of the known hosts have not been specified as feeding hosts or as egg laying substrates. To better understand the potential impacts of this invasive insect on natural and cultivated systems in North America, we reviewed records from published and unpublished results and observations of host plant use by spotted lanternfly. We aggregated 172 host plant records worldwide and found feeding behaviors associated with 103 plant taxa across 33 families and 17 orders, 20 of which were not previously known to be associated with SLF and 15 of which were not confirmed as feeding hosts. North American records account for 56 of these taxa which include native, cultivated, and nonnative species. As a result, the spotted lanternfly has the potential to impact a wide assortment of ecosystems throughout its potential range and its North American distribution may not be limited by the presence of tree of heaven.


2004 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Landry ◽  
Jean-François Landry

AbstractThe North American fauna of Alucitidae is shown to include three widespread species: Alucita montana Barnes et Lindsey, 1921 (nec Cockerell), Alucita adriendenisisp. nov. (type locality: Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada), and Alucitalalanneisp. nov. (type locality: Maynooth, Ontario, Canada). Alucita hexadactyla (L., 1758) and A. huebneri Wallengren, 1862 do not occur in North America. The three North American species are described and illustrated. Alucita montana is found from southwestern Quebec and Vermont, west to British Columbia, and south to Arizona, California, and Texas; its caterpillar is associated with Symphoricarpos spp. (Caprifoliaceae). Alucita adriendenisi is known from northwestern Quebec and New York, west to Alberta and the Northwest Territories, with more southern populations (isolated?) in West Virginia, Arizona, and Texas; its caterpillar feeds on flowers of Lonicera dioica L. (Caprifoliaceae) in Michigan. Alucita lalannei has been found in Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta, Canada; its host plant is unknown.


Author(s):  
Sonja J Scheffer ◽  
Matthew L Lewis ◽  
Julie B Hébert ◽  
Frode Jacobsen

Abstract Insects that feed on plants are widely used for studies of host-plant-associated speciation due to their diversity and tractability. The value of these studies necessarily depends upon an accurate understanding of the diet of the focal insects. In North America, the 12 Phytomyza Fallén (Diptera: Agromyzidae) leafmining fly species feeding on hollies (Ilex spp. (Aquifoliaceae: Ilex)) initially appeared to be primarily a host-plant-associated radiation of largely monophagous species. However, our increased collecting efforts found that a majority of the morphospecies are oligophagous, feeding on multiple Ilex species. Patterns of host-associations suggest that colonization of new hosts followed by host-associated speciation may be an important feature of diversification. Analyses of mitochondrial COI data in three oligophagous species found evidence of host-associated genetic structure consistent with processes of host-associated divergence. However, in one of these species, evidence of geographic divergence as well as host-associated divergence was detected, illustrating complexity in factors relating to speciation and host-use evolution in this radiation of leafmining flies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah G. Freedman ◽  
Hugh Dingle

Abstract Monarch butterfly wing morphology varies substantially throughout their global range, both between resident and migratory populations and also within the migratory North American population. Here, we use a dataset comprising more than 1800 North American individuals collected between 1878-2017 to characterize the factors shaping continent-wide patterns of wing morphological variation. North American overwintering butterflies have forewings that are approximately 4.4% larger than those collected in summer breeding areas. Monarchs overwintering in Mexico have forewings that are approximately 1.8% larger than monarchs overwintering in California, conducive to the idea that migration distance is positively correlated with wing area. We find evidence for a latitudinal cline within North America, such that butterflies collected at higher latitudes have significantly larger and more elongated forewings. We also find a significant increase of approximately 4.9% in forewing area between 1878-2017, but no difference through time in wing elongation. This result is corroborated by a reanalysis of a recently published dataset of more than 600 butterflies from Mexican overwintering sites. We discuss possible reasons for this increase in wing size through time, including northward shifts in the monarch’s breeding range and changes in relative abundance of milkweed hosts, and present experimental data addressing the influence of larval host plant on adult wing morphology. Our analysis suggests that (1) migration is indeed an important selective force for monarch wing morphology; (2) wing size has increased through time in North America; (3) factors such as host plant identity must be considered to fully understand monarch wing morphological variation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 1151-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dusabenyagasani ◽  
G Laflamme ◽  
R C Hamelin

We detected nucleotide polymorphisms within the genus Gremmeniella in DNA sequences of β-tubulin, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial small subunit rRNA (mtSSU rRNA) genes. A group-I intron was present in strains originating from fir (Abies spp.) in the mtSSU rRNA locus. This intron in the mtSSU rRNA locus of strains isolated from Abies sachalinensis (Fridr. Schmidt) M.T. Mast in Asia was also found in strains isolated from Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. in North America. Phylogenetic analyses yielded trees that grouped strains by host of origin with strong branch support. Asian strains of Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerberg) Morelet var. abietina isolated from fir (A. sachalinensis) were more closely related to G. abietina var. balsamea from North America, which is found on spruce (Picea spp.) and balsam fir, and European and North American races of G. abietina var. abietina from pines (Pinus spp.) were distantly related. Likewise, North American isolates of Gremmeniella laricina (Ettinger) O. Petrini, L.E. Petrini, G. Laflamme, & G.B. Ouellette, a pathogen of larch, was more closely related to G. laricina from Europe than to G. abietina var. abietina from North America. These data suggest that host specialization might have been the leading evolutionary force shaping Gremmeniella spp., with geographic separation acting as a secondary factor.Key words: Gremmeniella, geographic separation, host specialization, mitochondrial rRNA, nuclear genes.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1278
Author(s):  
Michael Glenn O’Connor ◽  
Amjad Horani ◽  
Adam J. Shapiro

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, under-recognized disease that affects respiratory ciliary function, resulting in chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease. The PCD clinical phenotype overlaps with other common respiratory conditions and no single diagnostic test detects all forms of PCD. In 2018, PCD experts collaborated with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) to create a clinical diagnostic guideline for patients across North America, specifically considering the local resources and limitations for PCD diagnosis in the United States and Canada. Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) testing is recommended for first-line testing in patients ≥5 years old with a compatible clinical phenotype; however, all low nNO values require confirmation with genetic testing or ciliary electron micrograph (EM) analysis. Furthermore, these guidelines recognize that not all North American patients have access to nNO testing and isolated genetic testing is appropriate in cases with strong clinical PCD phenotypes. For unresolved diagnostic cases, referral to a PCD Foundation accredited center is recommended. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide insight on the North American PCD diagnostic process, to enhance the understanding of and adherence to current guidelines, and to promote collaboration with diagnostic pathways used outside of North America.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1033
Author(s):  
Lloyd C. Irland ◽  
John Hagan

Why have a special issue on North American options for reducing national CO2 footprints through forest management [...]


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