Alexandra Robeson, Isaiah I. Korostil, Alec P. Brundle, Jessica L. Pepe and Grace E. Zuchowski

Abstract:

Beetles are the most diverse group of macroorganisms on Earth. Many are known to produce or sequester chemicals to protect themselves from predators. The viburnum leaf beetle, Pyhrralta viburni, is native to Eurasia, but has become an invasive exotic in North America. The larval and egg stages of this beetle have been previously studied and shown to contain three anthraquinone compounds, chrysophanol, chrysazin, and dithranol, however, chemistry of the adult beetles was not examined. Herein, we show that adult beetles also contain three anthraquinone compounds, chrysophanol, chrysazin, and, surprisingly, aloe-emodin by using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques supported by LC-MS data.