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Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nijhout, HF
Published in: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
January 1, 1997

Precis coenia exhibits a seasonal color polyphenism. Animals reared under long-day conditions develop a pale tan pigmentation on their ventral hind wing (the linea form), whereas animals reared under short-day conditions develop a dark reddish-brown pigmentation (the rosa form). This developmental switch is mediated by a shift in the timing of ecdysteroid secretion at the outset of adult development. In addition, a single recessive gene mimics the effect of short-day conditions and, when homozygous, produces a constitutive rosa pheno-type. This article analyzes the pigment composition of the ventral hind wing pattern of the linea and rosa forms. It presents a new thin layer chromatography system that separates ommochromes with high resolution. The linea pigmentation was found to be due to xanthommatin, while the rosa pigmentation is due to a mixture dihydro-xanthommatin and ommatin-D. Induction of the rosa form thus requires the synthesis of a new pigment (ommatin-D is a sulfate of dihydro-xanthommatin) and the stabilization of the reduced form of xanthommatin. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

DOI

ISSN

0739-4462

Publication Date

January 1, 1997

Volume

36

Issue

3

Start / End Page

215 / 222

Related Subject Headings

  • Entomology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Nijhout, H. F. (1997). Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 36(3), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6327(1997)36:3<215::AID-ARCH5>3.0.CO;2-S
Nijhout, H. F. “Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).” Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 36, no. 3 (January 1, 1997): 215–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6327(1997)36:3<215::AID-ARCH5>3.0.CO;2-S.
Nijhout HF. Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 1997 Jan 1;36(3):215–22.
Nijhout, H. F. “Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).” Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, vol. 36, no. 3, Jan. 1997, pp. 215–22. Scopus, doi:10.1002/(SICI)1520-6327(1997)36:3<215::AID-ARCH5>3.0.CO;2-S.
Nijhout HF. Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 1997 Jan 1;36(3):215–222.
Journal cover image

Published In

Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology

DOI

ISSN

0739-4462

Publication Date

January 1, 1997

Volume

36

Issue

3

Start / End Page

215 / 222

Related Subject Headings

  • Entomology
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 0608 Zoology