Abstract
Even though insects and plants are distantly related organisms, they developed an integument which is functionally and structurally similar. Besides functioning as a physical barrier to cope with abiotic and biotic stress, this interface, called cuticle, is also a source of chemical signaling. Crucial compounds with this respect are surface lipids and especially cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). This review is focused on the role of CHCs in fostering multilevel relationships among ants, plants and Lepidoptera (primarily butterflies). Indeed, particular traits of ants as eusocial organisms allowed the evolution and the maintenance of a variety of associations with both plants and animals. Basic concepts of myrmecophilous interactions and chemical deception strategies together with chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways and functions of CHCs as molecular cues of multitrophic systems are provided. Finally, the need to adopt a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach in the survey of complex models is discussed.
Highlights
Introduction and OutlinesThe evolutionary success of organisms relies on their adaptability to various environmental conditions
This review explores the role of the cuticle, acting as a source of chemical signaling, in fostering multilevel relationships between plants and insects
Clear evidence is reported by the elegant experiment of Blenn and colleagues [132], who found that the egg-laying of Pieris brassicae butterflies on Arabidopsis thaliana elicited wax modifications, with increasing tetratriacontanoic acid (C34) and decreasing tetracosanoic acid (C24) contents: the latter serving as attractant for the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma brassicae
Summary
The evolutionary success of organisms relies on their adaptability to various environmental conditions. After concisely describing myrmecophilous interactions, a synthesis beyond the current state of the literature on chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways and functions of CHCs as molecular the literature on chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways and functions of CHCs as molecular signals in these multitrophic systems is provided. Ants often represent the main predators of other insects or small invertebrates, the primary seed-disperse organisms or even the major herbivores of their ecosystem They do not merely defend their nest, and the space surrounding their colonies [17]. Peculiar traits of ants as eusocial organisms allowed the evolution and the maintenance of a variety of associations with both plants and animals, called myrmecophilous (ant-loving) organisms [17,26,27,28] or in the case of obligate plant symbioses, myrmecophytes [29]
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