Chlorogenic Acid as a Feeding Deterrent for the Salicaceae-Feeding Leaf Beetle, Lochmaeae capreae cribrata(Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)and Other Species of Leaf Beetles

Abstract

The salicaceae-feeding leaf beetle, Lochmaeae capreae cribrata does not feed on a few salicaceous plants such as Salix integra, S. chaenomeloides and S. koriyanagi. Chlorogenic acid was isolated as the feeding deterrent from the water exudates of S. integra leaves. It is contained at high levels in S. integra, S. chaenomeloides and S. koriyanagi. This chemical did not act as a feeding deterrent to Plagiodera versicolora distincta which accepted these plants. These results suggest that the rejection of the three salicaceous plants by L. c. cribrata is due to the high levels of chlorogenic acid. In comparing the feeding behavior of various leaf beetles, it appeared that many species responded to the chemical as a feeding deterrent. Thus chlorogenic acid, which is widely distributed in the plant kingdom appears to play a defensive role in the host plant selection of certain phytophagous insects.