De novo synthesis of alkaloids on ladybirds

BSc Thesis Research, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

2017-2018

In my bachelor thesis, I examined whether there is a dietary effect on the de novo (Self-producing) defensive chemicals in two-spot ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata; Coccinellidae). We treated different quality of diets to examine the effect on the reaccumulation rate of Adaline and Adalinine over the span of 12 days after stimulating a reflex bleeding. The dietary effect had a significant effect on the reaccumulation rate of both alkaloids and supported the extent of dynamism of the chemical defense composition in ladybirds.

Journal of Chemical Ecology

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01326-2

Supervisor

• Supervisor: John Sloggett

Funded by

• Universiteitsfonds Limburg (SWOL)

Other research….