Migratory locusts release a toxic substance to fend off their own conspecifics
Two bacterial partners supply auger beetles with vital nutrients for the synthesis of a sturdy exoskeleton
High levels of ozone destroy the chemical mating signal of the insects and may thus contribute to global insect decline
Tobacco hornworms neutralize different defense mechanisms of tobacco plants after ingestion
Gene duplication increased the diversity and specificity of enzymes that enable beetle larvae to degrade important wood components.
Researchers from Jena show how the poison nut tree forms strychnine
Bacteria produce antifungal compound protecting the eggs, larvae, and pupae from infections / Bacterial community is retained even during molting stages.
When metabolizing spruce bark, the insect’s fungal partners release volatile compounds that bark beetles recognize through specialized olfactory sensory neurons
Chicks are intimidated by eyespots that appear to gaze at them, providing an explanation for why eyespots are often symmetrical
While the chemical steps for the biosynthesis of nepetalactone appear to be identical in the plants and insects, they use different enzymes to catalyze them.
The degradation of the cell wall component pectin through the acquisition of an originally microbial enzyme provides access to the nutrient-rich constituents of plant cells.
Sequestration of plant toxins by monarch butterflies leads to reduced warning signal conspicuousness
Depending on the composition of the defensive toxins of their host plants, the insects use two different complementary enzymes for detoxification
Depending on the composition of the defensive toxins of their host plants, the insects use two different complementary enzymes for detoxification
While the chemical steps for the biosynthesis of nepetalactone appear to be identical in the plants and insects, they use different enzymes to catalyze them.
Researchers from Jena show how the poison nut tree forms strychnine