Sequestration of glucosinolates by harlequin bug Murgantia histrionica

Murgantia histrionica, the harlequin bug, is an aposematic pentatomid that feeds on toxic crucifer plants. By performing predator trials, we found that the bugs are distasteful to several species of bird predators. Given this, we tested the hypothesis that the bugs sequester toxins from the crucifer plants they feed on for use in defense against predation. We used high-pressure liquid chromatography for analyses and tested if M. histrionica sequesters toxic chemicals from its crucifer diet. We found that M. histrionica sequesters mustard oil glycosides, precursors to zootoxic mephitic nitriles, and that sequestration is characteristic of the plant species fed upon. Glucosinolate titers in M. histrionica bodies were 20-30 times higher than in their guts. We found that cabbage-fed M. histrionica had higher titers of cabbage glucosinolates than bugs that were fed on a cabbage diet and then switched to a diet of garden nasturtium. This indicates that M. histrionica immediately sequesters chemicals from whichever plant it feeds upon. The study shows that M. histrionica can sequester glucosinolates from its host plants for use in defense against predation and that the bugs can retain the glucosinolates for an extended period of time.