Dihydropyrrolizine attractants for arctiid moths that visit plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Adults of three species of arctiid moths (Cisseps fulvicollis, Ctenucha virginia, andHalysidota tessellaris) are attracted to plants that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). The moths use olfactory cues to locate these plants, then feed on leaves, flowers, and roots with the proboscis. To investigate the chemical basis of attraction, sticky traps were baited with roots of a PA-containing plant,Eupatorium maculatum, alkaloids ofE. maculatum, and several derivatives of these alkaloids. Volatile derivatives of the bicyclic pyrrolizidine skeleton attracted all three arctiid species. The dihydropyrrolizines, (S)-(+)-hydroxydanaidal and (R)-(-)-hydroxydanaidal, proved to be the most attractive compounds tested, accounting for over 70% of the moths captured. Different alkaloid derivatives attracted different proportions of male and femaleCisseps. Both (S)-(+)-hydroxydanaidal (52% male) and (R)-(-)-hydroxydanaidal (71% male) attracted a significantly lower percentage ofCisseps males thanE. maculatum roots (87% male).Cisseps males possess eversible scent organs (coremata) that are displayed during courtship. Analysis of corematal extracts revealed the presence of hydroxydanaidal.Cisseps moths thus resemble danaine and ithomiine butterflies, both in their attraction to PA sources and in the presence of PA derivatives in the male scent organs.