SEQUESTRATION OF TROPANE ALKALOIDS FROM Brugmansia suaveolens (SOLANACEAE): NEW RECORDS FOR ORTHOPTERA AND COLEOPTERA.

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are the main secondary metabolites found in Datureae (Solanaceae). These compounds are neurotoxic to many organisms. However, some insect species can sequester and accumulate TAs in their bodies. Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. and Bonpl. ex Willd.) Bercht. and J.Presl, a Neotropical shrub, is known to produce TAs. In this study, we report the sequestration of TAs from B. suaveolens by Chromacris speciosa (Thunberg, 1824) (Orthoptera: Rhomaleidae) and Lema daturaphila Kogan & Goeden (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Both of these insects have been observed feeding on leaves from various species of Solanaceae in the study site. We analyzed extracts from insects and the host plant using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In B. suaveolens, we identified five TAs, while in the insect bodies, we found four. Scopolamine was the most abundant alkaloid in all the samples. This is the first report of TAs in these insects. While TAS may play a role in defense against generalist herbivores, further investigation is needed to understand the association between TAs and predators since both insects exhibit moderately aposematic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]