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Defensive secretion of the carabid beetlePasimachus subsulcatus
B S Davidson1, T Eisner, B Witz
1Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York.
Abstract:
The defensive secretion of the carabid beetlePasimachus subsulcatus is a concentrated solution (up to 90%) of carboxylic acids, amounting to about 1% of body mass. It contains three major components (methacrylic, tiglic, and angelic acids) and four minor components (isobutyric, 2-methyl-butyric, isovaleric, and senecioic acids). In the single population of this large flightless beetle that was examined, the relative ratio of acidic components was remarkably constant from individual to individual.
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