Corn rootworm beetles feed voraciously on wild squash cultivars. Pertinently, th

Question

Corn rootworm beetles feed voraciously on wild squash cultivars. Pertinently, these same species of beetles can be severe pests on related cultivated species like pumpkins. The beetles will just sit on the fruit for hours eating contentedly. Extracts of these wild cultivars are very high in a class of chemical called cucurbitacins. Electrical recordings from the palpi of the beetles showed bursts of electrical activity when exposed directly to cucurbitacins. When cucurbitacins were slathered on silica gel surfaces, exposed beetles started eating the substrate. These observations show that cucurbitacins can be considered to be in a class of semiochemicals called [________________].

pheromones

allomones

hormones

repellents

synomones

codlemones

kairomones

attractosomes

A.

pheromones

B.

allomones

C.

hormones

D.

repellents

E.

synomones

F.

codlemones

G.

kairomones

H.

attractosomes

Explanation / Answer

These cucurbitacins are effective semiochemicals acting ecologiocally allomones protect the Cucurbitaceae from attack by a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate herbivores. When feeding on bitter cucurbits these beetles sequester large amounts of cucurbitacins in their blood and tissues, and these act as allomones to deter predation.

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