CHRYSOMELID UTILIZATION OF A HIGH TERPENOID FOOD SOURCE
Philip H. Evans, Judith X. Becerra1, and William S. Bowers
Department of Entomology or 1Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721 USA.
Bursera (Burseraceae) is a genus of nearly 100 species of highlyresinous trees and shrubs of the New World tropics. Many speciesof the tropical flea beetle Blepharida (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)are monophagous on Bursera and the terpenoid chemistry of Burserais reported to have great influence on the evolution of host shifts byBlepharida. Terpenoid resins in Bursera schlectendaliiare under pressure and squirt or flow from injured leaves. The adaptedBlepharida herbivore, however, avoids entangling resins by severingand plugging the resin canals before feeding. When disturbed the beetledeploys a defensive behavior of regurgitation and defecation. Weanalyzed the terpenoid composition of Bursera schlectendalii resin,and the Blepharida regurgitate, feces and fecal shield. We foundthat the major monoterpenoid compounds in the resin are used unalteredby the Chrysomelid beetle in its defensive chemistry.