CHEMICAL ECOLOGY OF THE DEFENSE OF 2 NYMPHALID BUTTERFLY LARVAE AGAINST ANTS

We analyzed the behavioral responses of the ants Camponotus rufipes an d Solenopsis geminata towards all instars of Dione junio and Abananote hylonome. We also analyzed ant behavior towards hexane extracts of la rvae and extracts of the spines and neck glands of the fifth instars o f both species and identified the chemical compounds present. Larvae o f both species were repellent to ants from the first instar onward. La ter instars survived ant attacks better than earlier instars. The spin es and neck glands of the larvae influenced the behavior of C. rufipes . The chemical compounds contained in the hexane extracts of whole fir st and fifth instars and in the spines and neck glands of fifth instar s were principally carboxylic acids and terpenes. Further bioassays co nfirmed the repellent effect of some of these acids toward ants.