Spodoptera eridania

Highly toxic substances, such as cyanides, are sometimes feeding cues and stimulants for specialized insects. For example, instar larvae of the southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) strongly prefer cyanogenic foods, such as foliage of the lima bean, a plant with comparatively elevated cyanide content — up to 31 mg/kg in some varieties — in the form of linamurin (Brattsten et al. 1983). Feeding was stimulated in southern army worms at dietary levels up to 508 mg KCN/kg... 

Brattsten, L.B., J.H. Samuelian, K.Y. Long, S.A. Kincaid, and C.K. Evans. 1983. Cyanide as afeeding stimulant for the southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania. Ecol. Entomol. 8 125-132. 

Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate [16725-534] CH3(CH2)3CH=CH(CH2)8OOCCH3 southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (with (Z)-9,(E)-12-tetradecadienyl acetate) beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua... 

Guo, L. and Blomquist, G.J. (1991). Identification, accumulation and biosynthesis of the cuticular hydrocarbons of the southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera Noctuidae). Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol., 16,19-30. 

Guo, L., Nelson, D.R., Fatland, C.L. and Blomquist, G. J. (1992). Very long-chain methyl-branched alcohols and their acetate esters in pupae of the southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania Identification and biosynthesis. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol., 22, 277-283. 

Johnson, N. D. and Bentley, B. B. 1988. Effects of dietary protein and lupine alkaloids on growth and survivorship of Spodoptera eridania. J. Chem. Ecol. 14, 1391-1403... 

Terpenoids isolated in large quantities from resistant species were tested with several sunflower insect pests. Since sesquiterpene lactones were present in much higher concentrations than diterpenes in the most resistant species studied, our investigations emphasized sesquiter-pene lactones. Three species of insects were used in these studies Spodoptera eridania, Melanoplus sanquinipes and Homoeosoma electellum. 

Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) - the southern armyworm. This species was chosen for study because it is closely related to S. exigua, the beet armyworm, an insect which has periodically damaged fields of cultivated sunflower in the southern Great Plains (47). A laboratory colony of Sj, exigua could not be successfully maintained. Both S eridania and S. exigua are termed generalist feeders because they can feed on various organs of a variety of taxonomically-unrelated plants (48, 49). Experiments on S. eridania were performed in collaboration with Dr. K. Nakanishi s laboratory at Columbia University. 

Epoxide rings of alkene and arene compounds are hydrated to form trans-diols. The enzymes that catalyze the addition of a molecule of water to an epoxide ring to yield diols are called epoxide hydrolases (also known as epoxide hydrases). Epoxide hydrolase activity has been detected in numerous species of insects. Enzymatic epoxide hydration of certain cyclodiene insecticides and their analogs has been demonstrated in the housefly, blowfly (Calliphora erythrocephala), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), southern army worm (Spodoptera eridania), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Epoxide hydrolase is also important in the metabolism of juvenile... 

This MLA fraction was also tested for insecticidal activity against Spodoptera eridania and Musea domeStica, and was toxic to both. A previous study by Aiyar et al. had shown that MLA was the alkaloid responsible for causing the death of cattle feeding on Delphinium brownii in Western Canada (10) They also demonstrated that MLA had a neuromuscular blocking action in a rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, which was probably due to an effect on the nicotinic cholinergic receptor. The EC50 for this effect was 2.3 pM. 

Figure 3. The insecticidal effect of methyllycaconitine against Spodoptera eridania. Lima bean leaves were dipped in 2 1 acetonerwater solutions containing 1000 ppm MLA.citrate (A), 300 ppm MLA.citrate (B), acetone.water control (C). Leaves were exposed to 5 third instar Spodoptera eridania larvae for 24 h at an ambient temperature of 27 C. (Reproduced with permission from American Cyanamid Co. Copyright 1986.)...

Similarly it has been shown that the most potent norditerpenoid alkaloids acting as inhibitors of mammalian and insect cholinergic receptors have the C-l 8 anthranilic acid esterification, characteristic of the Delphinium norditerpenoid alkaloid methyllycaconitine (MLA), structurally-related to aconitine [40-42], MLA also had antifeedant effects against Spodoptera eridania with associated post-ingestive and toxic effects at doses within the effective antifeedant dose range of compound 30 [40], suggesting a similar antifeedant mode of action between MLA/aconitine and the C-20 diterpenoid alkaloids. 

Lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, 283 Snkworm, Bombyx mori, 714 Southan armyworm, Spodoptera eridania, 217... 

Isecticidal, acaricidal and molluscicidal agents. Example compound shows 100% kill against Spodoptera eridania 3rd instar larvae and Tetranychus urticae P resistant strain. 97... 

Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) Western potato leaf hopper (Empoasca abrupta)... 

Given the relatively low toxicity of abamectin against Spodoptera ssp., Merck scientists embarked on a targeted screening program to improve the activity against Lepidoptera. In 1989, Mrozik et al. [28] reported the activity of 4"-desoxy-4"-epi-amino avermectins. In a test against neonate Spodoptera eridania larvae. 

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