Doratifera vulnerans

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Doratifera vulnerans
Cup moth caterpillar02.jpg
Caterpillar of Doratifera vulnerans
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Limacodidae
Genus: Doratifera
Species:
D. vulnerans
Binomial name
Doratifera vulnerans
Lewin, 1805
Synonyms

Bombyx vulnerans, Lewin, 1805

Doratifera vulnerans, commonly known as the mottled cup moth, Australian cup moth or Chinese Junk (referring to its caterpillar), is a species of cup moth of the family Limacodidae. [1] The species was first described by John Lewin in 1805 and is the type species of the genus Doratifera . [2] It is found in Australia. It is known for its caterpillar having unique stinging spines or hairs that contain toxins, for which the scientific name is given that means "bearer of gifts of wounds". [3] Chemical and genetic analysis in 2021 show that its caterpillar contains 151 toxins, some of which have medicinal properties. [4]

Contents

Biology

D. vulnerans is a small moth having a characteristic rust-coloured (ferruginous) body. The head region surrounding the antennae are white. It has two pairs of legs, and the two fore legs have white bands. The leg hairs, palpi, are white at the tip and brown at the base. [5] The two fore wings are hairy with shiny rust colour and silvery margins. Two hind wings are dull white with the edges slightly whitish. [6] The main body is entirely light brown. Males and females are very similar except that males are slightly smaller. [6] Males measure 2 cm while females can be up to 5 cm across the wingspans. [7]

Larva

The caterpillars of D. vulnerans are only about 2 cm long. [7] They are distinctively banded with different colours, considered as an evolutionary means of displaying its dangerousness (a phenomenon called aposematism). [8] They are broad, thick and short. There are four reddish and spiny projections on the anterior and posterior ends. The anterior end can be distinguished by its stouter appearance and the presence of a pair of tiny and reddish spine (antennae) compared to the posterior end that bears two slender but elongated whitish tails. [6] The eight projections can pop up about a hundred of yellow needle-like stinging hairs or spines. [9]

It was John Lewin who discovered that the sting of these hairs are painful due to the presence of toxins. He described this feature is a defence mechanism against predators. [6] The caterpillars do not expose these spines unless they are stimulated or agiated by other animals. [10] When the spines are in contact, the tips are easily broken thereby releasing the toxins, [9] which can induce severely inflamed swellings. [6] The general colour is grey studded with many dark spots and streaks. On each side of the body there is a clear yellow band lined with green band, [1] [6] giving a saddle-like appearance. [7]

Life cycle

D. vulnerans lays their eggs in clusters on leaves and cover them with their body hairs. The eggs are commonly found on Eucalyptus leaves. Sometimes they also use other trees including guava and apricot. As the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the leaves. [7] They grow for about two weeks, after which they form cocoons and remain hanging on trees for two weeks. [1] [6] The cocoons have circular lids which can be conveniently pushed open by the moths as they emerge. [7]

Toxins

In 2021, researchers at the University of Queensland reported that the venom of D. vulnerans contains a mixture of at least 151 different toxins. [4] These toxins are all proteins or derivatives of proteins, and some of them are chemically similar to insect neuropeptide, linear cationic peptides, and cysteine-rich peptides of the spider venom. [11] When they isolated some of the toxins, they found that some of them have medicinal properties such as the ability to kill pathogenic bacteria and helminth parasites. [3] Among the toxins, cecropin was identified as the pain-causing chemical. [10] It was experimented with bacteria and helminths in which it specifically destroys the cell membranes, thus, has antibiotic and anthelmintic properties. [12] In other studies, it is also known to have antifungal and anti-cancer activities. [13] [14] Another protein named DV33 can kill the sheep's roundworm Haemonchus contortus. [10] There are also proteins that act on nervous system and can have beneficial effects such as in epilepsy. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venom</span> Toxin secreted by an animal

Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved venom apparatus, such as fangs or a stinger, in a process called envenomation. Venom is often distinguished from poison, which is a toxin that is passively delivered by being ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, and toxungen, which is actively transferred to the external surface of another animal via a physical delivery mechanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caterpillar</span> Larva of a butterfly or moth

Caterpillars are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urticating hair</span> Bristles on plants and animals that cause physical irritation when embedded

Urticating hairs or urticating bristles are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, almost all New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. Urtica is Latin for "nettle", and bristles that urticate are characteristic of this type of plant, and many other plants in several families. This term also refers to certain types of barbed bristles that cover the dorsal and posterior surface of a tarantula's or caterpillar's abdomen. Many tarantula species eject bristles from their abdomens, directing them toward potential attackers. These bristles can embed themselves in the other animal's skin or eyes, causing physical irritation, usually to great discomfort. The term "hairs" is technically a misnomer, as technically only mammals possess true hairs. The technical word for plant hairs is trichomes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturniidae</span> Family of moths

Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and giant silk moths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emperor scorpion</span> Species of scorpion

The emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperator, is a species of scorpion native to rainforests and savannas in West Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world and lives for 6–8 years. Its body is black, but like other scorpions it glows pastel green or blue under ultraviolet light. It is a popular species in the pet trade, and is protected by CITES to prevent over-collecting that might affect the species' survival.

<i>Opodiphthera eucalypti</i> Species of moth

Opodiphthera eucalypti, the emperor gum moth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae native to Australia. This species was formerly placed in the genus Antheraea.

Apitoxin or bee venom is the venom produced by the honey bee. It is a cytotoxic and hemotoxic bitter colorless liquid containing proteins, which may produce local inflammation. It may have similarities to sea nettle toxin.

<i>Megalopyge opercularis</i> Venomous species of moth, "puss caterpillar"

Megalopyge opercularis is a moth of the family Megalopygidae. It has numerous common names, including southern flannel moth for its adult form, and puss caterpillar, asp, Italian asp, fire caterpillar, woolly slug, opossum bug, puss moth, tree asp, or asp caterpillar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese red-headed centipede</span> Subspecies of centipede

The Chinese red-headed centipede, also known as the Chinese red head, is a centipede from East Asia and Australasia. It averages 20 cm (8 in) in length and lives in damp environments.

<i>Hyalophora cecropia</i> Species of moth

Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches or more. These moths can be found all across North America as far west as Washington and north into the majority of Canadian provinces. Cecropia moth larvae are most commonly found on maple trees, but they have also been found on cherry and birch trees among many others. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

<i>Automeris io</i> Species of moth

Automeris io, the Io moth or peacock moth, is a colorful North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The Io moth is also a member of the subfamily Hemileucinae. The name Io comes from Greek mythology in which Io was a mortal lover of Zeus. The Io moth ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end of Florida. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.

Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases, enzymes capable of cleaving peptide bonds in proteins. In humans, plasma kallikrein has no known paralogue, while tissue kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) encode a family of fifteen closely related serine proteases. These genes are localised to chromosome 19q13, forming the largest contiguous cluster of proteases within the human genome. Kallikreins are responsible for the coordination of various physiological functions including blood pressure, semen liquefaction and skin desquamation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venomous fish</span> Fish that have the ability to produce toxins

Venomous fish are species of fish which produce strong mixtures of toxins harmful to humans which they deliberately deliver by means of a bite, sting, or stab, resulting in an envenomation. As a contrast, poisonous fish also produce a strong toxin, but they do not bite, sting, or stab to deliver the toxin, instead being poisonous to eat because the human digestive system does not destroy the toxin they contain in their bodies. Venomous fish do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, as the digestive system often destroys the venom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback caterpillar</span> Larva of an eastern North American moth

The saddleback caterpillar is the larva of a species of moth native to eastern North America. It is also found in Mexico. The species belongs to the family of slug caterpillars, Limacodidae.

<i>Conus geographus</i> Species of sea snail

Conus geographus, popularly called the geography cone or the geographer cone, is a species of predatory cone snail. It lives in reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific, and hunts small fish. While all cone snails hunt and kill prey using venom, the venom of conus geographus is potent enough to kill humans.

Pompilidotoxins (PMTXs) are toxic substances that can only be found in the venom of several solitary wasps. This kind of wasp uses their venom to offensively capture prey and is relatively harmless to humans. This is in stark contrast to social insects that defend themselves and their colonies with their venom.

<i>Dendrocnide excelsa</i> Species of plant in the family Urticaceae

Dendrocnide excelsa, commonly known as the giant stinging tree or fibrewood, is a rainforest tree in the family Urticaceae which is endemic to eastern Australia. It occurs from Tathra, New South Wales to Imbil in southeastern Queensland, and is very common at Dorrigo National Park and other rainforest walks in eastern Australia. The habitat of the giant stinging tree is subtropical, warm temperate or littoral rainforest, particularly in disturbed areas, previously flattened by storms or cyclones.

<i>Lonomia obliqua</i> Species of moth

Lonomia obliqua, the giant silkworm moth, is a species of saturniid moth from South America. It is famous for its larval form, rather than the adult moth, primarily because of the caterpillar's defense mechanism, urticating bristles that inject a potentially deadly venom. The caterpillar has been responsible for many human deaths, especially in southern Brazil. Its venom has been the subject of numerous medical studies. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. Guinness World Records classified the Lonomia obliqua as the most venomous caterpillar in the world.

<i>Doratifera</i> Genus of moths

Doratifera is a genus of cup-moth caterpillars in the family Limacodidae. The genus was erected by James Duncan in 1841. There are about 13 described species in Doratifera, found primarily in Australia. They are called cup-moths because of the shape of their cocoons. In the species Doratifera vulnerans, the venon has a complex structure having 151 different protein-based toxins produced from 59 distinct protein families. The venom can be used in pesticides and drugs.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mottled Cup Moth - Doratifera vulnerans". www.brisbaneinsects.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  2. ↑ "Doratifera - Butterflies and Moths of the World". www.nhm.ac.uk. The Natural History Museum, London. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  3. 1 2 "South East Queensland's very venomous caterpillar". UQ News. The University of Queensland. 2021-06-22. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  4. 1 2 Walker, Andrew A.; Robinson, Samuel D.; Paluzzi, Jean-Paul V.; Merritt, David J.; Nixon, Samantha A.; Schroeder, Christina I.; Jin, Jiayi; Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati; Kotze, Andrew C.; Dekan, Zoltan; Sombke, Andy (2021). "Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 118 (18): e2023815118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023815118 . PMC   8106304 . PMID   33893140.
  5. ↑ Walker, Francis (1855). List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum: 5: Lepidoptera Heterocera. London: Order of the Trustees. p. 1116.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Duncan, James (1841). The Natural History of Exotic Moths. W.H. Lizars. pp. 181–183.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cup moths". The Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  8. ↑ Speed, Michael P.; Ruxton, Graeme D. (2005). "Warning displays in spiny animals: one (more) evolutionary route to aposematism". Evolution. 59 (12): 2499–2508. doi: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2005.tb00963.x . PMID   16526498.
  9. 1 2 3 Sheehan, Amy (2021-06-21). "Could caterpillar's venom treat nervous system disorders?". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  10. 1 2 3 Lu, Donna (2021-06-22). "Stinging secret: research reveals how venom from Australian caterpillars could be used in medicines". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-06-22. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  11. ↑ Arnoud, C.A. (2021-04-22). "Caterpillar venom is a complex mixture of toxins". cen.acs.org. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  12. ↑ Crew, Bec (2021-06-28). "Meet the venomous mottled cup moth caterpillar". Australian Geographic. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  13. ↑ Suttmann, Henrik; Retz, Margitta; Paulsen, Friedrich; Harder, Jürgen; Zwergel, Ulrike; Kamradt, Jörn; Wullich, Bernd; Unteregger, Gerhard; Stöckle, Michael; Lehmann, Jan (2008). "Antimicrobial peptides of the Cecropin-family show potent antitumor activity against bladder cancer cells". BMC Urology. 8 (1): 5. doi: 10.1186/1471-2490-8-5 . PMC   2276511 . PMID   18315881.
  14. ↑ Ziaja, Maksymilian; Dziedzic, Ada; Szafraniec, Kacper; Piastowska-Ciesielska, Agnieszka (2020). "Cecropins in cancer therapies-where we have been?". European Journal of Pharmacology. 882: 173317. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173317 . PMID   32603694.
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