Fate of male-derived cucurbitacins in spotted cucumber beetle females

Using the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, as a model species, we begin an examination of the role of dietary cucurbitacins, the bitter tetracyclic triterpenes produced by cucurbits, in the reproductive behavior of luperine chrysomelids that seek these compounds for purpo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 2000-02, Vol.26 (2), p.413-427
Main Authors: TALLAMY, D. W, GORSKI, P. M, BURZON, J. K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal ethology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Chrysomelidae
Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi
Females
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Males
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
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Summary:Using the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, as a model species, we begin an examination of the role of dietary cucurbitacins, the bitter tetracyclic triterpenes produced by cucurbits, in the reproductive behavior of luperine chrysomelids that seek these compounds for purposes other than host-plant recognition or nutrition. By manipulating the cucurbitacin content of adult diets, we determine: (1) how males and females partition cucurbitacins between reproductive organs and other tissues, (2) the extent to which males pass cucurbitacins to females during copulation, and (3) if females increase their cucurbitacin stores via multiple matings. After two days of exposure to dietary cucurbitacins, 8.3 times more cucurbitacins per gram dry weight were sequestered in male spermatophores than in the aggregate of remaining male tissues. These cucurbitacin-rich spermatophores were passed to females during mating, and 78.8% of the transferred cucurbitacin was deposited in eggs, 11.8% was irreversibly sequestered in other female tissues, and 9.4% was apparently excreted. Females copulated with 0-15 males prior to accepting a complete spermatophere, but did not accept measurable amounts of cucurbitacin from rejected males. Regardless of when it was received, females lost subsequent receptivity to additional males after accepting a complete spermatophore. The implications of these data are discussed in terms of sexual selection hypotheses and mating behavior in cucumber beetles.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1023/A:1005461522609