Macrosiphon albifrons

The aphid Macrosiphon albifrons is attracted to Lupinus species with a characteristic alkaloid pattern. Individuals that had low alkaloid content were not attacked, nor were plants with different quinolizidine alkaloid composition. This aphid excretes a portion of the alkaloids in the honeydew and retains a portion in its body (Wink and Romer, 1986). Another aphid, Aphis cytisorum, which infests broom plants (Cytisus scoparius), accumulates up to 0.5 mg alkaloid per gram fresh weight. The alkaloids are similar in composition to those of the host plant, 17-oxosparteine (25), sparteine (17), 12,13-dehydrosparteine, and lupanine (21) (Wink et al., 1982). 

Wink, M. and P. Romer, Acquired toxicity—the advantages of specializing on alkaloid-rich lupins to Macrosiphon albifrons (Aphidae), Naturwissenschaften, 73, 210-212 (1986). 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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