Utetheisa omatrix

Plate 7.1. Natural history of Utetheisa omatrix (left panel). Adult male (top) larva feeding on seedpod of Crotalaria mucronata (middle) adult male courting a female (bottom). The yellow genitalic coremata are partially inflated and thrust toward the female. Natural history of Cosmosoma myrodora (right panel). Adult male resting on leaf of the larval host plant Mikania scandens (top) larva (middle) male courting female (bottom). The flocculent has been released and forms a cloud around the pair. 

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids proven defensive role (Utetheisa omatrix)... 

BognerF. X. (1996) Interspecific advantage results in intraspecific disadvantage chemical protection versus cannibalism in Utetheisa omatrix (Lepidoptera Arctiidae). J. Chem. Ecol. 22, 1439-1451. 

Bogner F. and Eisner T. (1991) Chemical basis of egg cannibalism in a caterpillar (Utetheisa omatrix). J. Chem. Ecol. 17, 2063-2075. 

Gonzalez A., Rossini C., Eisner M. and Eisner T. (1999a) Sexually transmitted chemical defense in a moth (Utetheisa omatrix) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96, 5570-5574. 

Grant A. J., O Connell R. J. and Eisner T. (1989) Pheromone-mediated sexual selection in the moth Utetheisa omatrix olfactory receptor neurons responsive to a male-produced pheromone. J. Ins. Behav. 2, 371-386. 

Hare J. F. and Eisner T. (1993) Pyrrolizidine alkaloid deters ant predators of Utetheisa omatrix eggs effects of alkaloid concentration, oxidation state, and prior exposure of ants to alkaloid-laden prey. Oecologia 96, 9-18. 

Iyengar V. K., Rossini C. and Eisner T. (2001) Precopulatory assessment of male quality in an arctiid moth (Utetheisa omatrix) hydroxydanaidal is the only criterion of choice. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 49, 283-288. 

Rossini C., Gonzalez A. and Eisner T. (2001) Fate of an alkaloidal nuptial gift in the moth Utetheisa omatrix systemic allocation for defense of self by the receiving female. J. 

CONNER, W.E., EISNER, T., VAN DER MEER, R.K., GUERRERO, A., MEIN WALD, J., Precopulatory sexual interactions in an arctiid moth (Utetheisa omatrix) Role of a pheromone derived from dietary alkaloids. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 1981,9,227-235. 

DUSSOURD, D.E., UBIK, K., HARVIS, C RESCH, J., MEINWALD, J., EISNER, T., Biparental defensive endowment of eggs with acquired plant alkaloid in the moth Utetheisa omatrix. Proc. Natl Acad Sci. U. S. A., 1988,85,5992-5996. 

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