Insect Defenses

Most insects have an enormous number of potential predators and parasites. To defend against these parasites and predators many herbivorous insects have developed remarkable defense mechanisms based either on chemicals they obtain from their host plants or novel toxins they secrete de-novo. The mechanisms that insects use to deliver their defensive chemicals can also be remarkable. Insects vomit, bleed, excrete, defecate, spit, and squirt toxins on their potential enemies. The diversity of chemical defenses is also impressive, and includes steroids, alkaloids, cantharidin, hydrogen cyanide, histamine, acetylcholine and many others. In this lecture we will explore the interesting and unpredictable world of insect chemical defenses.

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