This paper reports on insect species not previously associated with cantharidin, the terpenoid defense mechanism of blister beetles (Meloidae). Species from the following tau were obserYed and collected: Miridae (Hemiptera); Endomychidae, Pyrochroidae, AnthiLidae (Coleoptera); Ceratopogonidae, Sciaridae (Diptera); and Braconidae (Hymenoptera). In addition to listing the associations, a discussion of cantharidin orientation is presented along with preliminary hypotheses to explain these intriguing examples of coevolution 

Young, Daniel K

English

Valparaiso University

The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 17 Number 4 - Winter 1984 Number 4 - Winter 1984 Article 2 December 1984 Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Cantharidin Daniel K. Young University of Wisconsin Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Young, Daniel K. 1984. "Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Cantharidin," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 17 (4) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 1984 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 195 FIELD RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANTHARIDIN Daniel K. Young! ABSTRACT This paper reports on insect species not previously associated with cantharidin, the terpeooid defense mechanism of blister beetles (MeJoidae). Species from the following tau were obserYed and collected: Miridae (Hemiptera); Endomychidae, Pyrochroidae, .-\nthiLidae IColeoptera); Ceratopogonidae, Sciaridae (Diptera); and Braconidae (Hymen­optera;. In addition to listing the associations, a discussion of cantharidin orientation is presented along with preliminary hypotheses to explain these intriguing examples of coevolution . .-\ recent re,'jew (Young 1984) attempted to draw together all published associations between insect5 and cantharidin or the me10id beetles which are known to produce the compound. In this paper, a large number of insect-cantharidin records are reported for specie:; 1lL"'i previously associated with cantharidin. METHODS ~lany ot the records listed below came from a cantharidin baiting technique I developed during my ,;tudies on North American Pedilus. Baits were made by dissolving cantharidin crystals in acetone. and then pipetting the solution onto filter paper disks. For the sake of unif0rrmr;. a 10- 2 M solution of cantharidin in acetone was utilized and 0.5 ml were added to each piece of Whatman #2, 5.5-cm filter paper. The acetone quickly evapo­rated. lea,jng the cantharidin impregnated between the fibers of the filter papers which were kepi: in plastic petri dishes (two to a dish). ~lore recently a "jar-trap" was utilized. The baited filter papers were prepared as alxne. but then suspended by thin wires from a window screen funnel in the opening of a wide-:rnouthed quart jar. When live-trapping, the bottom of the jar was left empty or cOYered with dampened tissue paper. Otherwise, ethylene glycol was added as a killing and teIllfX)fary preservation fluid. For both the baits and jar traps, controls were prepared and run 00 numerous occasions by going through the same preparation steps as outlined above ....itbout ackIing cantharidin to the acetone. In general, a collection record was considered valid if three or more specimens of the species in question were recovered from tv. 0 O " IllQI'"e baits (or traps) within the same site on a given date, or froIll a given site on tv.o 0, more dates. or from two or more sites. Records are accompanied by state or proYiTh::e distribution data. Voucher specimens are deposited in the collections of the author. other individuals. and the entomological research collections at Michigan State l'ni\ersity a d the l"niwrsity of Wisconsin. De]~:::-le'nr 0f Entomology. Cniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706. 1Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With CantharPublished by ValpoScholar, 1984196 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 NEW RECORDS OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANTHARIDIN HEMIPTERA MIRIDAE Orthotylinae Hadronema breviata Knight, California. H. princeps Uhler, Wyoming. Of 12 specimens only one is a male. (R. T. Schuh, in litt.). H. uhleri 	VanDuzee, MEXICO, Baja California. All 13 specimens are females (R. T. Schuh, in litt.). H. uniformis Knight, California. Bryocorinae Caulotops spp., Arizona; MEXICO, Baja California. Eurychilella sp. near pallida Reuter, MEXICO, Oaxaca. Halticotoma valida Townsend, Colorado. Halticotoma sp., Idaho. Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus (Guerin-Meneville), Florida, Michigan; MEXICO, Oaxaca. Pycnoderes sp., Michigan. Sixeonotus brevirostris Knight, Louisiana. Sixeonotus sp. near brevirostris Knight, Idaho. S. insignis Reuter, Michigan, New York. S. tenebrosus (Distant), Florida. Sixeonotus spp., California, Idaho, Michigan; MEXICO, Oaxaca, Puebla. Sysinas linear is Distant, MEXICO, Puebla. COLEOPTERA ENDOMYCHIDAE Eumorphinae Aphorista laeta (LeConte), California, Idaho. A. vittata (Fabricius), Michigan. Lycoperdinaferruginea LeConte, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin; CANADA, Sas­katchewan. Stenotarsinae Danae testacea \~'VE:>"V" Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin. PYROCHROIDAE Pyrochroinae Neopyrochroafemoralis (LeConte), Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin. Only males have been taken at cantharidin. Schizotus cervicalis Newman, Michigan, Wisconsin; CANADA. Quebec. Specimens were observed between mid-morning and early afternoon; all were males. ANTHICIDAE Anthicinae Acanthinus scitulus (LeConte), New Mexieo. Anthicus punctulatus LeConte, California. A. sonoranus Werner, MEXICO, Baja California. Formicilla munda LeConte, New Mexico. 2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 2https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2198-1- THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 197 Farmicolnus camul LaFerte. THAILAND. Formicomus sp. Ilewisi ~larseul?), THAILAND.JfecynotaTSus falcarus Chandler, New Mexico . .if. ilbliquema~ulams :-'larseuL THAILAND. Jf.ragepicllIs Fairmaire. THAILAND. SOroXlIS btfasciatus (LeConte). Michigan. S. filicomis Case\. Florida. S. 'ph(1fl15 Chandler. Arizona. S. seminole Chandler. Florida. Sapintu5 j :ranus (:-'Iarseul), THAILAND. S. plecrilis IPiCI. THAILAND. Tomoderus spp.. Florida, Illinois, Missouri. DIPTERA CERATOPOGONIDAE Forcipomyiinae A.rrichvpogon geminlls Boesel, Louisiana, Michigan. A. lnis ;Coquillett). Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan. A.. maculosu5 Ewen. Louisiana . .4. Hebsleri ,Coquillett). California, Louisiana, Michigan. Arrichopogon sp. near webster! (Coquillett), Michigan. SCIARIDAE I undetennino:! sciaridsl, California, Michigan. HYMENOPTERA BRACONIDAE Blacu.<: ruftcomis (Nees), California. All of the nine specimens were male (S. Shaw, in lin. I Srreblocera near pulvillicornis Walley and MacKay, Michigan. All were females. Svrrhi::us agi/is (Cresson), California, Michigan. All were females. DISCUSSION Pinto (1978) concluded his paper on mirid "parasitization" of meloids by suggesting that the mirids were primarily phytophagous, and that their relationship with meIoids was ancillary to their primary food sources. If plant feeding on the part of cantharidin­orienting ~liridae represents a plesiomorphic character state, then Miller's (1956) hypoth­esis relative to the evolution of a predaceous life style merits stating: ""The adoption of a carnivorous habit probably has its origin in the ease in which a primitive pb)lophagous bug could alternate the sucking of plant sap with the piercing of smail insects associated with the same host plant." There would. at this incipient stage of predatory development, appear to be little selective pre55ure relative to gross modifications of such complex structures as the mouth­parts. as has been noted for many predaceous Heteroptera. In this regard, it should be pointed out that cantharidin-orienting mirids appear to possess no such modifications. However. they clearly orient to the chemical even when meloids and host plants are entirely remO'l.-ed as variables. If cantharidin receptors evolved in response to the presence of rneloids. I would suggest that Pinto's conclusion might be better stated in reverse: the cantharidin-orienting mirids appear to be near obligate, free-living ectoparasites which may srill rely upon plant juices in an ancillary way. Cnfonunate1y. I have frequently collected large numbers of bryocorine mirids at can­3Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With CantharPublished by ValpoScholar, 1984198 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 tharidin under circumstances wherein they would rarely if ever encounter meloids. For these taxa, one or more of the following hypotheses bear consideration: I) Cantharidin receptors evolved in an ancestral lineage which preyed upon meloids. While the species in question may no long rely upon meloids as a primary food source, the sensory apparatus persists. 2) Cantharidin, or a related compound, is utilized by the mirids as a pheromone, defensive compound, or both. 3) Cantharidin, or a related compound, is present in the host plants with which the irids coevolved. With respect to the first hypothesis, it should be noted that species richness for both meloids and cantharidin-orienting mirid taxa s greatest in the tropics. Although meloid predation might be common in the tropics, some of our temperate mirids could have secondarily lost their reliance on this food source as they radiated northward and explored new resources. The second and third hypotheses share the notion that cantharidin, or a closely related compound, is produced by organisms totally unrelated to meloids. Within the Ranuncu­laceae, a number of species have been reported to cause cantharidin-like blistering of epithelial tissue (Mitchell and Rook 1979). The vesicant, protoanemonin, is believed to be produced from the glycoside, ranunculin. Protoanemonin is the precursor of anemonin, a compound characterized by Mitchell and Rook as being related to cantharidin. The handsome fungus beetles frequent fungi and molds on which they feed and mate. Endomychids have been observed mating and apparently feeding on the cantharidin­baited filter papers. Since cantharidin is a terpene and such compounds abound in the plant kingdom, it seems plausible that cantharidin mimics some terpenoid fungal metabo­lite which certain endomychids may in tnrn utilize to locate a potential host fungus. The same hypothesis may account for the sciarids observed at cantharidin. Few evolutionary hypotheses regarding cantharidin orientation n Pyrochroidae and Anthicidae have been proposed. However, these families, together with the Oedemeridae, Meloidae, and several others, are all ought to be closely related in a phylogenetic sense. Perhaps ..:antharidin or a closely related compound was present in the ancestral stock which eventually gave rise to these taxa. Clearly, the chemical has evolved largely as a defense mechanism in the Meloidae and Oedemeridae. The proponderance of male pyrochroids and anthicids orienting toward cantharidin would seem to imply that the compound serves, at least in part, as a sex pheromone as Abdullah (1965) suggested for the anthicids. An alternative, or additional, function might be that of an aggregating pheromone, as has been suggested for some of the Meloidae (Richard Selander, pers. comm.) and Anthicidae (Abdullah 1965). Scott Shaw (in litt.) suggested that the Blacus (Braconidae) may represent an accidental catch since males of ruficornis are known to swarm. However, the nine specimens came from several different baits over the course of three days. While not directly involving cantharidin, Syrrhizus agilis has been demonstrated to develop as an endoparasitoid in adult Notoxus anchora Hentz in Ontario (Loan 1972). My wife and I noted oviposition behavior by an unidentified female braconid on a  adult Notoxus cavicornis LeConte from Mariposa County, California; the observations were made while the specimens were on a cantharidin bait. A similar situation was reported by R. A. Wharton (in litt.) in El Dorado County, California, for a presumed Syrrhizus female and an unidentified Notoxus adult. Thus, both of these braconids appear to utilize adult anthicids (Notoxus spp.) as hosts. They also orient toward cantharidin whether anthicids are present or not. These observations support the hypothesis that at least certain species of Anthicidae contain cantharidin or a closely related compound. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks are extended to a number f individuals who gave of their time and energies, adding significantly to the data base for this paper: Albert Allen, Donald Chandler, Claude Chantal, Joan Chapin, William Clark, Mark Evans, Roland Fischer, Thomas 4The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 2https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2199 198-1. THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Henry. Ronald Hooper. James and Janice Johnson, Paul Johnson, Harry Lee, Jr., Scott ~[CCleve. Jay ~1cPherson. Sc tt Miller, Adam Porter, F. William Ravlin, Edward Riley, Anthony Route . .:'.1ilton Sanderson, Gary Shook, Robert Wharton, Alfred Wheeler, Jr., Jack Young. and Joan Young. I should like to acknowledge the following specialists who assisted with species identifications and verifications: Donald Chandler (Anthicidae), Thomas Henry and R. Toby Schuh (Miridae), Scott Shaw (Braconidac), and Willis Wirth (Ceratopogonidae). Stanley Wellso, Alfred Wheeler, Jr., and David Gosling reviewed earlier versions of the manuscript and provided many useful suggestions for its improve­ment. LITERATURE CITED Abdullah. ~L 1965. Protomeloe crowsoni a new species of a new tribe (Protomeloini) of the blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae), with remarks on a postulated new pher­OIoone icantharidin). Entomol. Tidskr .. Stockholm 86:43-48. Loan. C. C. 1972. Parasitism of adult Notoxus anchora Henz. (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) by SYl7hi:us agilis (Cress) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ontario 103:":'6. ~lilIer.~. C. E. 1956. The biology of the Heteroptera. Leonard Hill Ltd., London. 152 p. ~litchelL 1. and A. Rook. 1979. Botanical dermatology. Plants and plant products in­jurious to the skin. Greengiass Ltd., Vancouver, B. C. xiii + 787 p. Pinto. J. D. 1978. The parasitization of blister beetles y species of Miridae (Coleoptera: ~[eloidae: Hemiptera: Miridae). Pan-Pacific Entomol. 54:57-60. ·Young. D. K. 1984. Cantharidin and insects: An historical review. Great Lakes Entomol. 1-:1&7-19-1-. 5Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With CantharPublished by ValpoScholar, 1984

Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Cantharidin

ValpoScholar

The Great Lakes Entomologist 
Volume 17 
Number 4 - Winter 1984 Number 4 - Winter 
1984 
Article 2 
December 1984 
Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With 
Cantharidin 
Daniel K. Young 
University of Wisconsin 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Young, Daniel K. 1984. "Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Cantharidin," The 
Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 17 (4) 
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2 
This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. 
For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 
1984 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 195 
FIELD RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS OF INSECTS 

ASSOCIATED WITH CANTHARIDIN 

Daniel K. Young! 
ABSTRACT 
This paper reports on insect species not previously associated with cantharidin, the 
terpeooid defense mechanism of blister beetles (MeJoidae). Species from the following 
tau 
were obserYed and collected: Miridae (Hemiptera); Endomychidae, Pyrochroidae, 
.-\nthiLidae 
IColeoptera); Ceratopogonidae, Sciaridae (Diptera); and Braconidae (Hymen­
optera;. In addition to listing the associations, a discussion of cantharidin orientation is 
presented along with preliminary hypotheses to explain these intriguing examples of 
coevolution . 
.-\ recent re,'jew (Young 1984) attempted to draw together all published associations 
between insect5 and cantharidin or the me10id beetles which are known to produce the 
compound. In this paper, a large number of insect-cantharidin records are reported for 
specie:; 1lL"'i previously associated with cantharidin. 
METHODS 
~lany ot the records listed below came from a cantharidin baiting technique I developed 
during my ,;tudies on North American Pedilus. Baits were made by dissolving cantharidin 
crystals in acetone. and then pipetting the solution onto filter paper disks. For the sake of 
unif0rrmr;. a 10- 2 M solution of cantharidin in acetone was utilized and 0.5 ml were 
added to each piece of Whatman #2, 5.5-cm filter paper. The acetone quickly evapo­
rated. lea,jng the cantharidin impregnated between the fibers of the filter papers which 
were kepi: in plastic petri dishes (two to a dish). 
~lore 
recently a "jar-trap" was utilized. The baited filter papers were prepared as 
alxne. but then suspended by thin wires from a window screen funnel in the opening of a 
wide-:rnouthed quart jar. When live-trapping, the bottom of the jar was left empty or 
cOYered with dampened tissue paper. Otherwise, ethylene glycol was added as a killing 
and teIllfX)fary preservation fluid. For both the baits and jar traps, controls were prepared 
and 
run 
00 numerous occasions by going through the same preparation steps as outlined 
above 
....itbout ackIing cantharidin to the acetone. In general, a collection record was 
considered valid if three or more specimens of the species in question were recovered 
from tv. 0 O " IllQI'"e baits (or traps) within the same site on a given date, or froIll a given site 
on tv.o 0, more dates. or from two or more sites. Records are accompanied by state or 
proYiTh::e 
distribution data. Voucher specimens are deposited 
in the collections of the 
author. other individuals. and the entomological research collections at Michigan State 
l'ni\ersity a d the l"niwrsity of Wisconsin. 
De]~:::-le'nr 0f Entomology. Cniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706. 
1
Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Canthar
Published by ValpoScholar, 1984
196 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 
NEW RECORDS OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED 

WITH CANTHARIDIN 

HEMIPTERA 
MIRIDAE 

Orthotylinae 
Hadronema breviata Knight, California. H. princeps Uhler, Wyoming. Of 12 specimens only one is a male. (R. T. Schuh, in litt.). 
H. uhleri 	VanDuzee, MEXICO, Baja California. All 13 specimens are females (R. T. 
Schuh, in litt.). 
H. uniformis Knight, California. 
Bryocorinae 
Caulotops spp., Arizona; MEXICO, Baja California. 

Eurychilella sp. near pallida Reuter, MEXICO, Oaxaca. 

Halticotoma valida Townsend, Colorado. 

Halticotoma sp., Idaho. 

Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus (Guerin-Meneville), Florida, Michigan; MEXICO, Oaxaca. 

Pycnoderes sp., Michigan. 

Sixeonotus brevirostris Knight, Louisiana. 

Sixeonotus sp. near brevirostris Knight, Idaho. 

S. insignis Reuter, Michigan, New York. 

S. tenebrosus (Distant), Florida. 

Sixeonotus spp., California, Idaho, Michigan; MEXICO, Oaxaca, Puebla. 

Sysinas linear is Distant, MEXICO, Puebla. 

COLEOPTERA 
ENDOMYCHIDAE 

Eumorphinae 
Aphorista laeta (LeConte), California, Idaho. A. vittata (Fabricius), Michigan. 
Lycoperdinaferruginea LeConte, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin; CANADA, Sas­
katchewan. 
Stenotarsinae 
Danae testacea \~'VE:>"V" Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin. 
PYROCHROIDAE 

Pyrochroinae 

Neopyrochroafemoralis (LeConte), Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin. Only males have been 
taken at cantharidin. 
Schizotus cervicalis Newman, Michigan, Wisconsin; CANADA. Quebec. Specimens 
were observed between mid-morning and early afternoon; all were males. 
ANTHICIDAE 

Anthicinae 

Acanthinus scitulus (LeConte), New Mexieo. 
Anthicus punctulatus LeConte, California. 
A. sonoranus Werner, MEXICO, Baja California. 
Formicilla munda LeConte, New Mexico. 
2
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 2
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2
198-1- THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 197 
Farmicolnus camul LaFerte. THAILAND. 
Formicomus sp. Ilewisi ~larseul?), THAILAND.
JfecynotaTSus falcarus Chandler, New Mexico . 
.if. ilbliquema~ulams 
:-'larseuL THAILAND. Jf.
ragepicllIs Fairmaire. THAILAND. SOroXlIS 
btfasciatus (LeConte). Michigan. S. 
filicomis 
Case\. Florida. 
S. 'ph(1fl15 
Chandler. Arizona. S. 
seminole Chandler. Florida. 
Sapintu5 j :ranus (:-'Iarseul), THAILAND. 

S. plecrilis IPiCI. THAILAND. 

Tomoderus spp
.. Florida, Illinois, Missouri. 

DIPTERA 
CERATOPOGONIDAE 

Forcipomyiinae 

A.rrichvpogon geminlls Boesel, Louisiana, Michigan. 
A. lnis ;Coquillett). Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan. 

A.. maculosu5 Ewen. Louisiana . 

.4. Hebsleri ,Coquillett). California, Louisiana, Michigan. 

Arrichopogon sp. near webster! (Coquillett), Michigan. 

SCIARIDAE 
I undetennino:! sciaridsl, California, Michigan. 
HYMENOPTERA 
BRACONIDAE 
Blacu.<: ruftcomis 
(Nees), California. All 
of the nine specimens were male (S. Shaw, in 
lin. I 
Srreblocera near pulvillicornis Walley and MacKay, Michigan. All were females. 
Svrrhi::us agi/is (Cresson), California, Michigan. All were females. 
DISCUSSION 
Pinto (1978) concluded his paper on mirid "parasitization" of meloids by suggesting 
that the mirids were primarily phytophagous, and that their relationship with meIoids was 
ancillary to their primary food sources. If plant feeding on the part of cantharidin­
orienting ~liridae represents a plesiomorphic character state, then Miller's (1956) hypoth­
esis relative to the evolution of a predaceous life style merits stating: 
""The adoption of a carnivorous habit probably has its origin in the ease in which a 
primitive pb)lophagous bug could alternate the sucking of plant sap with the piercing of 
smail insects associated with the same host plant." 
There would. at this incipient stage of predatory development, appear to be little 
selective pre55ure relative to gross modifications of such complex structures as the mouth­
parts. as has been noted for many predaceous Heteroptera. In this regard, it should be 
pointed out that cantharidin-orienting mirids appear to possess no such modifications. 
However. they clearly orient to the chemical even when meloids and host plants are 
entirely remO'l.-ed as variables. If cantharidin receptors evolved in response to the presence 
of 
rneloids. I would suggest that Pinto's conclusion might be better stated in reverse: the 
cantharidin-orienting mirids appear to 
be near obligate, free-living ectoparasites which 
may srill rely upon plant juices in an ancillary way. 
Cnfonunate1y. I have frequently collected large numbers of bryocorine mirids at can­
3
Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Canthar
Published by ValpoScholar, 1984
198 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 
tharidin under circumstances wherein they would rarely if ever encounter meloids. For 
these taxa, one or more of the following hypotheses bear consideration: 
I) 
Cantharidin receptors evolved in 
an ancestral lineage which preyed upon meloids. 
While the species in question may no long rely upon meloids as a primary food 
source, the sensory apparatus persists. 
2) 
Cantharidin, or a related compound, 
is utilized by the mirids as a pheromone, 
defensive compound, or both. 
3) 
Cantharidin, or a related compound, is present 
in the host plants with which the 
irids coevolved. 
With respect to the first hypothesis, it should be noted that species richness for both 
meloids and cantharidin-orienting mirid taxa s greatest in the tropics. Although meloid 
predation might be common in the tropics, some of our temperate mirids could have 
secondarily lost their reliance on this food source as they radiated northward and explored 
new resources. 
The second and third hypotheses share the notion that cantharidin, or a closely related 
compound, is produced by organisms totally unrelated to meloids. Within the Ranuncu­
laceae, a number of species have been reported to cause cantharidin-like blistering of 
epithelial tissue (Mitchell and Rook 1979). The vesicant, protoanemonin, is believed to be 
produced from the glycoside, ranunculin. Protoanemonin is the precursor of anemonin, a 
compound characterized by Mitchell and Rook as being related to cantharidin. 
The handsome fungus beetles frequent fungi and molds on which they feed and mate. 
Endomychids have been observed mating and apparently feeding on the cantharidin­
baited filter papers. Since cantharidin is a terpene and such compounds abound in the 
plant kingdom, it seems plausible that cantharidin mimics some terpenoid fungal metabo­
lite which certain endomychids may in tnrn utilize to locate a potential host fungus. The 
same hypothesis may account for the sciarids observed at cantharidin. 
Few evolutionary hypotheses regarding cantharidin orientation n Pyrochroidae and 
Anthicidae have been proposed. However, these families, together with the Oedemeridae, 
Meloidae, and several others, are all ought to be closely related in a phylogenetic sense. 
Perhaps ..:antharidin or a closely related compound was present in the ancestral stock 
which eventually gave rise to these taxa. Clearly, the chemical has evolved largely as a 
defense mechanism in the Meloidae and Oedemeridae. The proponderance of male 
pyrochroids and anthicids orienting toward cantharidin would seem to imply that the 
compound serves, at least in part, as a sex pheromone as Abdullah (1965) suggested for 
the anthicids. An alternative, or additional, function might be that of an aggregating 
pheromone, as has been suggested for some of the Meloidae (Richard Selander, pers. 
comm.) and Anthicidae (Abdullah 1965). 
Scott Shaw (in litt.) suggested that the Blacus (Braconidae) may represent an accidental 
catch since males of ruficornis are known to swarm. However, the nine specimens came 
from several different baits over the course of three days. While not directly involving 
cantharidin, Syrrhizus agilis has been demonstrated to develop as an endoparasitoid in 
adult Notoxus anchora Hentz in Ontario (Loan 1972). 
My 
wife and I noted oviposition behavior by 
an unidentified female braconid on a  
adult Notoxus cavicornis LeConte from Mariposa County, California; the observations 
were made while the specimens were on a cantharidin bait. A similar situation was 
reported by R. A. Wharton (in litt.) in El Dorado County, California, for a presumed 
Syrrhizus female and an unidentified Notoxus adult. Thus, both of these braconids appear 
to 
utilize adult anthicids 
(Notoxus spp.) as hosts. They also orient toward cantharidin 
whether anthicids are present or not. These observations support the hypothesis that at 
least certain species of Anthicidae contain cantharidin or a closely related compound. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
Thanks are extended to a number f individuals who gave of their time and energies, 
adding significantly to the data base for this paper: Albert Allen, Donald Chandler, 
Claude Chantal, Joan Chapin, William Clark, Mark Evans, Roland Fischer, Thomas 
4
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 2
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/2
199 198-1. THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 
Henry. Ronald Hooper. James and Janice Johnson, Paul Johnson, Harry Lee, Jr., Scott 
~[CCleve. 
Jay 
~1cPherson. Sc tt Miller, Adam Porter, F. William Ravlin, Edward Riley, 
Anthony Route . 
.:'.1ilton Sanderson, Gary Shook, Robert Wharton, Alfred Wheeler, Jr., 
Jack Young. and Joan Young. I should like to acknowledge the following specialists who 
assisted with species identifications and verifications: Donald Chandler (Anthicidae), 
Thomas Henry and R. Toby Schuh (Miridae), Scott Shaw (Braconidac), and Willis Wirth 
(Ceratopogonidae). Stanley Wellso, Alfred Wheeler, Jr., and David Gosling reviewed 
earlier versions of the manuscript and provided many useful suggestions for its improve­
ment. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Abdullah. ~L 1965. Protomeloe crowsoni a new species of a new tribe (Protomeloini) of 
the blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae), with remarks on a postulated new pher­
OIoone icantharidin). Entomol. Tidskr .. Stockholm 86:43-48. 
Loan. C. C. 1972. Parasitism of adult Notoxus anchora Henz. (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) 
by SYl7hi:us agilis (Cress) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Ontario 
103:":'6. 
~lilIer.~. C. E. 1956. The biology of the Heteroptera. Leonard Hill Ltd., London. 152 p. 
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Young: Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Canthar
Published by ValpoScholar, 1984


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Field Records and Observations of Insects Associated With Cantharidin

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