Photo Montage of Past and Current Research

Acromis sparsa female (left) guards here progeny from egg to eclosion

Acromis sparsa female (left) guards here progeny from egg to eclosion (right, newly emerged adults).  https://you.stonybrook.edu/vencllab/files/2016/04/vencl-Plata-C.-srygley-2013-ecol-entomol-193v1z9.pdf

Chromatographic separation and identification of chlorophyll catabolites from fecal shields of Chelymorpha alternans. (A) LC-MS profile of the methanolic extract of larval shields (straight line) and the pheophorbide a standard (dotted line). The two peaks for Pha represent epimeric esters of ring V (Smith et al. 1985), Pha (R = CH3), Phb (R = CHO), (*) unknown compounds. (B) UV spectra of Pha (straight line) and Phb (dotted line).

Chromatographic separation and identification of chlorophyll catabolites from fecal shields of Chelymorpha alternans. (A) LC-MS profile of the methanolic extract of larval shields (straight line) and the pheophorbide a standard (dotted line). The two peaks for Pha represent epimeric esters of ring V , Pha (R = CH3), Phb (R = CHO), (*) unknown compounds. (B) UV spectra of Pha (straight line) and Phb (dotted line).  https://you.stonybrook.edu/vencllab/files/2016/04/Vencl-et-al-2009-copy-18u840x.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of ridding themselves of their digestive wastes, the larvae of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) have the peculiar habit of voiding feces onto their backs, where it accumulates to form a coating or shield. Shields do not rest passively on the dorsum. They have a solid infrastructure formed by the accumulation of molted skins, which is itself attached to a highly movable, forked caudal process located on the penultimate abdominal segment. Adding to the shield system is a unique telescoping anus that precisely applies feces to the shield armature. Held like parasols above the larvae, shields can be aimed and waved in any direction.

Instead of ridding themselves of their digestive wastes, the larvae of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) have the peculiar habit of voiding feces onto their backs, where it accumulates to form a coating or shield. Shields do not rest passively on the dorsum. They have a solid infrastructure formed by the accumulation of molted skins, which is itself attached to a highly movable, forked caudal process located on the penultimate abdominal segment. Adding to the shield system is a unique telescoping anus that precisely applies feces to the shield armature. Held like parasols above the larvae, shields can be aimed and waved in any direction.   https://you.stonybrook.edu/vencllab/files/2016/04/Vencl-et-al-1999-copy-t21yds.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hypothesized relative timing of predator fossils, predator guild selection events, and defensive trait evolution in the tortoise beetles, sensu stricto, and related taxa in the Chrysomelidae.

Hypothesized relative timing of predator fossils, predator guild selection events, and defensive trait evolution in the tortoise beetles, sensu stricto, and related taxa in the Chrysomelidae. https://you.stonybrook.edu/vencllab/files/2016/04/10.1007_s10682-012-9603-1-1h4uwai.pdf

Female Acromis sparsa defending her larval progeny against Azteca ant attack with a bull-dozer movemnet

Female Acromis sparsa defending her larval progeny against Azteca ant attack with a bull-dozer movement. Larvae (left) also bear chemically-laden fecal shields and rest in tight rosettes as a defensive response to attack.  https://you.stonybrook.edu/vencllab/files/2016/04/Vencl-et-al.-2010-online-2jbd9j5.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photuris trivitatta fireflies emit pyrazine and flash to form an aposematic warning signal, which is an effective defense against some, but not all predatory enemies.

Photuris trivittata fireflies emit pyrazine and flash to form an aposematic warning signal, which is an effective defense against some, but not all predatory enemies.