Scripps VIVO scripps research logo

  • Index
  • Log in
  • Home
  • People
  • Organizations
  • Research
  • Events
Search form
As of April 1st VIVO Scientific Profiles will no longer updated for faculty, and the link to VIVO will be removed from the library website. Faculty profile pages will continue to be updated via Interfolio. VIVO will continue being used behind the scenes to update graduate student profiles. Please contact helplib@scripps.edu if you have questions.
How to download citations from VIVO | Alternative profile options

Alkyldimethylpyrazines in the defensive spray of Phyllium westwoodii: a first for order Phasmatodea

Academic Article
uri icon
  • Overview
  • Research
  • Identity
  • Additional Document Info
  • View All
scroll to property group menus

Overview

related to degree

  • Whitaker, John, Ph.D. in Chemistry, Scripps Research 2006 - 2012

authors

  • Dossey, A. T.
  • Gottardo, M.
  • Whitaker, John
  • Roush, William
  • Edison, A. S.

publication date

  • August 2009

journal

  • Journal of Chemical Ecology  Journal

abstract

  • Phyllium westwoodii is a phasmid insect (Order Phasmatodea) belonging to the Family Phylliidae (leaf insects). These rather large and ornate creatures are known for their morphological resemblance to plant leaves for camouflage. Pyrazines are a common class of compounds used or produced by a wide variety of organisms, even humans. When an individual of P. westwoodii is disturbed, it sprays an opaque liquid from a pair of prothoracic glands, which are utilized by other phasmid species for defense. The current study has found that this liquid contains glucose and a mixture of 3-isobutyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine, and 2,5-dimethyl-3-(3-methylbutyl)pyrazine. This is the first report of pyrazines found in the defensive gland spray of phasmid insects, and the first chemical analysis of glandular material from family Phylliidae.

subject areas

  • Animals
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Insecta
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Pyrazines
scroll to property group menus

Research

keywords

  • 2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)pyrazine
  • 2,5-dimethyl-3-(3-methylbutyl)pyrazine
  • 3-isobutyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine
  • Chemical defense
  • Dimethyl alkylpyrazine
  • Glucose
  • Insect
  • Phasmatodea
  • Phasmid
  • Phylliidae
  • Phyllium westwoodii
scroll to property group menus

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3787517

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0098-0331

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s10886-009-9666-9

PubMed ID

  • 19685263
scroll to property group menus

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 861

end page

  • 870

volume

  • 35

issue

  • 8

©2022 The Scripps Research Institute | Terms of Use | Powered by VIVO

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Support