Topic
Ermine moth
About: Ermine moth is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 25 publications have been published within this topic receiving 356 citations. The topic is also known as: ermine moth family.
Papers
TL;DR: It is suggested that the ancestral ermine moth pheromone is a mixture of (Z)-11- and (E-11-tetradecenyl acetate and the corresponding alcohols, and a scenario of how present-day patterns evolved is outlined.
Abstract: Sex pheromone communication in the nine European species of small ermine moths (Yponomeuta) is reviewed in regard to the potential role of pheromones in the speciation process. Six of the nine species studied (viz.,Y. evonymellus, Y. cagnagellus, Y. padellus, Y. irrorellus, Y. plumbellus, andY. vigintipunctatus) use a mixture of (E)-11-and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate in different ratios as primary pheromone components, with combinations of tetradecyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and the corresponding alcohols of the acetates as additional pheromone components. Analysis of (Z)- to (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate ratios produced by individual females of these species demonstrated significant variation among females of all species. However, the ranges of ratios produced byY. cagnagellus, Y. irrorellus, andY. plumbellus, sharing the same host-plant species, spindle tree, did not overlap. Niche separation of all six species mentioned required consideration of at least one additional pheromone component or of temporal aspects. The remaining three species,i.e. Y. malinellus, Y. mahalebellus andY. rorellus, have pheromones that differ qualitatively. Biosynthetic routes to the pheromone components identified are proposed on the basis of fatty acid pheromone precursors found in the pheromone glands. A phylogenetic tree for the genus is constructed based on allozyme frequency data and changes in pheromone composition are superimposed on this tree. We suggest that the ancestral ermine moth pheromone is a mixture of (Z)-11- and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and the corresponding alcohols, and a scenario of how present-day patterns evolved is outlined. The pheromone differences among the three species using spindle tree as their host-plant might have evolved throughreproductive character displacement upon secondary contact between populations that had already diverged genetically in allopatry. Pheromone differences within the so-calledpadellus-complex (includingY. cagnagellus, Y. mahalebellus, Y. malinellus, Y. padellus, andY. rorellus) in which species might have originated sympatrically, may have evolved byreinforcing selection as these species still hybridise and produce viable offspring when confined in cages. The role of pheromones in reproductive isolation amongYponomeuta species is emphasised by (1) the function of pheromone components of some of the species as behavioural antagonists to other species, (2) the cross-attraction under experimental conditions between allochronic species with similar pheromones, and (3) the formation of hybrids in the laboratory between species that are isolated in nature by pheromone differences.
145 citations
TL;DR: Three sibling species of European small ermine moths of the Yponomeuta padella complex have been collected in North America to allow identification of fresh as well as dried specimens without host data, and the sequence for a 2.3-kb region of mtDNA that includes the cytochrome oxidase I and II and transfer RNA (tRNA) leucine genes is reported.
Abstract: Three sibling species of European small ermine moths of the Yponomeuta padella complex have been collected in North America. To allow identification of fresh as well as dried specimens without host data, we examined these three species for diagnostic differences in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We report the sequence for a 2.3-kb region of mtDNA that includes the cytochrome oxidase I and II and transfer RNA (tRNA) leucine genes. The mtDNA of Y. malinellus Zeller showed 0.8-0.9% divergence from that of the other two species, Y. padella (L.) and Y. cagnagella (H¼bner). The latter two species had divergences of only 0.0-0.2;%. A survey of restriction sites in 44 collections demonstrated that Y. malinellus has distinct, diagnosable mtDNA in North America, whereas Y. padella and Y. cagnagella were not distinguished from each other by this method. The recent establishment and range expansion of Y. malinellus and Y. padella in western North America is currently being monitored by pheromone traps that potentially have some degree of cross-attraction. Restriction sites in amplified mtDNA should allow rapid confirmation of species identities of such dried collections. The method used to generate the particular diagnostic reported here can be expanded readily to include new species and populations.
63 citations
TL;DR: Y. rorellus is suggested to have evolved through loss of unsaturated pheromone components in a ‘genetic revolution’ at a population bottleneck, and by the founders of the new species filling an empty communication niche, separated from that of the ancestral species.
Abstract: The nine sympatric forms of small ermine moths of the genus Yponomeuta (Lepidoptere; Yponomeutidae) in the west palaearctic region show various degrees of differentiation1,2, including among other characteristics, differences in their sexual pheromones3. As is the case for many other moths4, the ermine moths so far analysed use delta 11-unsaturated acetates ((Z)-11-tetradecenyl, (E)-11-tetradecenyl and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate) as primary pheromone components. Here for the first time in Lepidoptera we report that a saturated acetate, tetradecyl acetate, is the primary pheromone component5 of Y. rorellus (Hubner). Y. rorellus is almost monomorphic with respect to isoenzyme variation6 and has fewer chromosomes than its relatives7,8. We suggest that it has evolved through loss of unsaturated pheromone components in a ‘genetic revolution’ at a population bottleneck, and by the founders of the new species filling an empty communication niche, separated from that of the ancestral species.
37 citations
TL;DR: The use of bird cherry as a host by Y. evonymellus is mainly determined by its phenology, which is likely due to spring frosts and heavy rains, which are deadly for larvae in an early stage of development on black cherry.
Abstract: Introduction of non-native species of plants affects the existence and feeding preferences of herbivorous insects. The bird cherry ermine moth (Yponomeuta evonymellus ) is considered a typical monophagous insect, which feeds only on bird cherry (Prunus padus) leaves. However, in recent years, we have observed Y. evonymellus larvae feeding on leaves of the non-native (in Europe) and highly invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina). We hypothesized that this insect can feed on P. serotina leaves with no negative ef- fects on its growth and development and that the main reason why it does not accept this plant as a host is the phenological difference between the two species of cherry. Moving individuals of the three larval instars (L1, L2 and L3) from bird cherry to black cherry did not affect the percentage of adults that emerged from the pupae or the masses of the moths. In addition, in one experiment, the moths were heavier and the percentage parasitized was lower on P. serotina than on P. padus. Thus, the leaves of black cherry were at least as good a food source as P. padus for Y. evonymellus. During the feeding period, there were low concentrations of defense compounds (phenolics and condensed tannins) in the leaves of both species. However, it is likely that the low success of Y. evonymellus in infesting P. serotina is due to spring frosts and heavy rains, which are deadly for larvae in an early stage of development on black cherry. In the field these weather conditions resulted in a very high mortality of larvae in our experiment. In conclusion, the use of bird cherry as a host by Y. evonymellus is mainly determined by its phenology.
22 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Ten parasitoid species belonging to hymenopteran families of Ichneumonidae, Eulophidae, Encrytidae and Elasmidae, and a dipteran family Tachinidae were found in Sivas.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine parasitoids attacking the apple ermine moth (Yponomeuta malinellus Zeller) in Sivas. Ten parasitoid species belonging to hymenopteran families of Ichneumonidae, Eulophidae, Encrytidae and Elasmidae and a dipteran family Tachinidae were found. Parasitoid guilds, their effect on the population of Yponomeuta malinellus and their importance in biological control are discussed.
17 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |