Chrysomela tremula is a polyvoltine oligophagous leaf beetle responsible for massive attacks on poplar trees. This beetle is an important model for understanding mechanisms of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal toxins, because a resistant C. tremula strain has been found that can survive and reproduce on transgenic poplar trees expressing high levels of the Cry3Aa Bt toxin. ...

*Correspondence: Lina María Arenas, Sensory Ecology Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, TR10 9EZ, Penryn, UK e-mail: [email protected] Vivid warning signals (aposematism) have evolved repeatedly throughout the animal kingdom. However, relatively few studies consider what makes an effective signal, in terms ...

Stable-isotope-labeled precursors were used to establish the biosynthetic pathway leading from β-alanine towards isoxazolin-5-one glucoside 1 and its 3-nitropropanoate (3-NPA) ester 2 in Chrysomelina larvae. Both structural elements originate from sequestered plant-derived β-alanine or from propanoyl-CoA that is derived from the degradation of some essential amino acids, e.g. valine. β-Alanine ...

It is well recognized that host-specialized folivores prefer to feed on young in comparison to old leaves. However, the capacity of young leaf feeders to track speciÞc leaf developmental stages has not been clearly demonstrated. Using three insect folivores and two plant species, we show that nitrogen (N) fertilization changes leaf development and that herbivores track these changes in leaf dev...

Plant-herbivore interactions dominate the planet's terrestrial ecology. When it comes to host-plant specialization, insects are among the most versatile evolutionary innovators, able to disarm multiple chemical plant defenses. Sequestration is a widespread strategy to detoxify noxious metabolites, frequently for the insect's own benefit against predation. In this study, we describe the broad-sp...