2000 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 119-123
The oviposition response of a swallowtail butterfly, Papilio bianor, was elicited by a methanolic extract from leaves of its host plant Orixa japonica (Rutaceae). Reverse phase ODS column chromatography of a water soluble layer separated two active fractions, eluted with 1% acetic acid in water and 40% methanol +1% acetic acid in water. A major active stimulant in the latter eluate was isolated and identified as (−)-4-(E)-caffeoyl-L-threonic acid. This compound was found to be active alone (43% oviposition response at 0.1 g leaf equivalent per 10 cm2 filter paper) and there was no significant synergistic effect of the compound on other active fractions. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives appear to be utilized widely as oviposition cues among the Papilionidae.
