Sequestration of tropane alkaloids from Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae) by the treehopper Alchisme grossa (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) are sap-feeding insects distributed mainly in tropical regions. Alchisme grossa is a treehopper that has been reported in the Bolivian Yungas forests using mostly Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae) as host-plant, where adult females oviposit and take care of their nymphs until they molt to adults. Brugmansia is a subtropical genus producing a variety of tropane alkaloids (TAs). We herein report the sequestration by adult males and females of A. grossa of TAs from B. suaveolens, examining separately the distinct body sections of insects. Purified extracts of A. grossa and B. suaveolens were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. TAs in A. grossa were the same as those in its host-plant; furthermore, they were equally distributed between sexes and they were differentially allocated within the body of adult individuals. An ecological role for sequestered TAs is discussed.