Chemical defense in the cave-dwelling millipede Brachydesmus troglobius Daday, 1889 (Diplopoda, Polydesmidae)

Authors

Slobodan E. Makarov, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of BelgradeFollow
Ljubodrag V. Vujisić, Faculty of Chemistry, University of BelgradeFollow
Božidar P. M. Ćurčić, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of BelgradeFollow
Bojan S. Ilić, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of BelgradeFollow
Vele V. Tešević, Faculty of Chemistry, University of BelgradeFollow
Vlatka E. Vajs, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of BelgradeFollow
Ivan M. Vučković, Faculty of Chemistry, University of BelgradeFollow
Bojan M. Mitić, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of BelgradeFollow
Luka R. Lučić, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of BelgradeFollow
Iris Ž. Đorđević, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of BelgradeFollow

Abstract

The troglomorphic millipede Brachydesmus troglobius Daday, 1889 (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae) secretes allomones from glands on both lateral surfaces of its body segments. The secretion was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis with electron and chemical ionization, and was shown to be composed of a mixture of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzoylnitrile, benzoic acid and mandelonitrile benzoate. Hydrogen cyanide was qualitatively identified by the picric acid test. This is the first identification of these compounds in a cave-dwelling polydesmid.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.41.1.10

Recommended Citation

Makarov, Slobodan E.; Ljubodrag V. Vujisić; Božidar P. M. Ćurčić; Bojan S. Ilić; Vele V. Tešević; Vlatka E. Vajs; Ivan M. Vučković; Bojan M. Mitić; Luka R. Lučić; and Iris Ž. Đorđević. 2012. Chemical defense in the cave-dwelling millipede Brachydesmus troglobius Daday, 1889 (Diplopoda, Polydesmidae). International Journal of Speleology, 41: 95-100.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol41/iss1/10