Pyrrolizidine alkaloid sequestration

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid sequestration by insects is a strategy to facilitate defense and mating. Various species of insects have been known to use molecular compounds from plants for their own defense and even as their pheromones or precursors to their pheromones. A few Lepidoptera have been found to sequester chemicals from plants which they retain throughout their life and some members of Erebidae are examples of this phenomenon.[1] Starting in the mid-twentieth century researchers investigated various members of Arctiidae, and how these insects sequester pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) during their life stages, and use these chemicals as adults for pheromones or pheromone precursors. PAs are also used by members of the Arctiidae for defense against predators throughout the life of the insect.[2]

  1. ^ Reddy, G.V.P. & A. Guerrero (2004), "Interactions of insect pheromones and plant semiochemicals", Trends in Plant Science, 9 (5): 253–261, doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2004.03.009, PMID 15130551
  2. ^ Boppre, M (1990), "Lepidoptera and Pyrrolizidine alkaloids exemplification of complexity in chemical ecology", Journal of Chemical Ecology, 16 (1): 165–185, doi:10.1007/BF01021277, PMID 24264905, S2CID 13380946