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Intestinal modifications of oak leaf tannins by Lymantria dispar L. (Lep., Lymantriidae) and possible effect on larval development
Author(s) -
Henn M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.1999.00369.x
Subject(s) - frass , lymantria dispar , biology , larva , polyphenol , botany , proanthocyanidin , gallic acid , insect , context (archaeology) , biochemistry , antioxidant , paleontology
The mode of action of polyphenols within an insect is not well understood and it would be useful to investigate the behaviour pattern of single phenolic compounds within the gut of an insect in this context. In the present study, the phenolic composition of the food of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar , was compared with that of its frass by using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The main difference was a shift in the concentration of phenolics in the frass with short retention times to those with longer ones, which, additionally, resulted in the appearance of new phenolic compounds. These new phenolics were hydrolysable tannins because after a cleavage via hydrolysation the hydrolysate contained high amounts of gallic acid. The appearance of these new phenolics in the frass of the larvae influenced growth negatively, as there was a negative correlation (P < 0.05) between their concentrations and the growth percentages of the larvae.