RT Journal Article
T1 Antiparasitic Properties of Cantharidin and the Blister Beetle Berberomeloe majalis (Coleoptera: Meloidae)
A1 Whitman, Douglas W.
A1 Andrés, Maria Fe
A1 Martínez Díaz, Rafael A
A1 Ibáñez Escribano, Alexandra
A1 Olmeda García, Ángeles Sonia
A1 Gonzalez-Coloma, Azucena
AB Cantharidin (CTD) is a toxic monoterpene produced by blister beetles (Fam. Meloidae) as a chemical defense against predators. Although CTD is highly poisonous to many predator species, some have evolved the ability to feed on poisonous Meloidae, or otherwise beneficially use blister beetles. Great Bustards, Otis tarda, eat CTD-containing Berberomeloe majalis blister beetles, and it has been hypothesized that beetle consumption by these birds reduces parasite load (a case of self-medication). We examined this hypothesis by testing diverse organisms against CTD and extracts of B. majalis hemolymph and bodies. Our results show that all three preparations (CTD and extracts of B. majalis) were toxic to a protozoan (Trichomonas vaginalis), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), two insects (Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi) and a tick (Hyalomma lusitanicum). This not only supports the anti-parasitic hypothesis for beetle consumption, but suggests potential new roles for CTD, under certain conditions.
PB MDPI
SN 2072-6651
YR 2019
FD 2019-04-22
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12775
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/12775
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)/FEDER
DS Docta Complutense
RD 20 abr 2025