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Ommochrome pigmentation of the linea and rosa seasonal forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Author(s) -
Nijhout H.F.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6327(1997)36:3<215::aid-arch5>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - biology , nymphalidae , lepidoptera genitalia , polyphenism , botany , wing , insect , anatomy , phenotype , ecdysteroid , genetics , gene , larva , engineering , aerospace engineering
Precis coenia exhibits a seasonal color polyphenism. Animals reared under long‐day conditions develop a pale tan pigmentation on their ventral hind wing (the linea form), whereas animals reared under short‐day conditions develop a dark reddish‐brown pigmentation (the rosa form). This developmental switch is mediated by a shift in the timing of ecdysteroid secretion at the outset of adult development. In addition, a single recessive gene mimics the effect of short‐day conditions and, when homozygous, produces a constitutive rosa phenotype. This article analyzes the pigment composition of the ventral hind wing pattern of the linea and rosa forms. It presents a new thin layer chromatography system that separates ommochromes with high resolution. The linea pigmentation was found to be due to xanthommatin, while the rosa pigmentation is due to a mixture dihydro‐xanthommatin and ommatin‐D. Induction of the rosa form thus requires the synthesis of a new pigment (ommatin‐D is a sulfate of dihydro‐xanthommatin) and the stabilization of the reduced form of xanthommatin. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 36:215–222, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.