Abstract

CLARO, RICARDO A; CORREA, HEBELIN; DUQUE, CARMENZA  and  RUIZ, NATALIA. Approach to the Interaction Studies of Aristolochia maxima and the Caterpillars of Butterflies Battus polydamas polydamas and Parides panares erythrus. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2007, vol.12, n.2, pp.59-68. ISSN 0120-548X.

Most butterflies of the tribe Troidini (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) sequester aristolochic acids (AA) for their protection. These acids are derived from their host plants family Aristolochiaceae upon which they feed on during their larval stages. Using analytical High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods we were able to detect the presence of aristolochic acids I and II both in the young leaves of Aristolochia maxima (Aristolochiaceae) and in the caterpillars of the butterflies Battus polydamas polydamas and Parides panares erythrus (Papilionidae, Papilioninae). Aristolochic acid I was the major constituent found, followed by lesser amounts of Aristoloquic acid II. These results confirm that the hostanimal interaction among butterflies of the studied species and A. maxima plants is mediated, by aristolochic acids.

Keywords : Aristolochic; chromatography; butterflies; Lepidoptera; Larval; HPLC.

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