Cabbage Aphids 'bombing' ladybirds!

[SueA]

There was an article in the Times last week that seems to spell bad news for those of us who rely on natural predators to kill aphids. Apparently there is a species of 'suicide' cabbage aphids who when confronted by a ladybird attack will detonate mustard-oil bombs in their own bodies which kills, disables or deters the attacker. The little defender aphid usually dies too in protecting the colony. Only the wingless aphids of 'Brevicoryne brassicae' store the chemical which is produced from glucosinolates extracted from cabbages & is mixed with an enzyme produced in muscles in the aphid's head & thorax. The report was compiled by a joint British & Norwegian team & is published in a journal called 'Proceedings of the Royal Society'. I'm not sure whether this is something which has only just been discovered but has always existed or if this means that aphids are evolving to protect themselves in new ways but it's certainly strange!

[rustylady]

That's wierd, and I've never heard of it, but if it's in the Times I suppose it must be true!!!!!!!! Who pays the people who spend all their time finding these things out (and presumably proving them?). I have actually seen an ant trying to see off a ladybird which was trying to get at a small group of black aphids on a bean leaf. I intervened and threw the ant off.

[Nicos]

Although I admire evolution......it really takes some 'keeping one step ahead' doesn't it??
Don't like to hear that news SueA.... but I do admire the little ones.....

It brings to mind the hunter in Jurrasic Park , who when tracked down by a female dinosaur , admired her hunting skills of him and said something like
" clever girl"....( just before she attacked him)
Know how he feels, but have yet to be approached by a hungry dinosaur!!!

I think with all this climate change, our next couple of generations are going to see some amazing changes in nature??!

[moggssue]

Brings a whole new meaning to chemical weapons really - and not good news

[HeyWayne]

Even allotments aren't safe from suicide bombers now!

[SueA]

I did check that it wasn't April 1st when I read this & wondered how they came to study it. Did a scientist just walk past some cabbage plants one day & go ' Oi! That aphid just exploded in front of a ladybird!'

[SimonCole]

I am having trouble finding the journal because many start: proceedings of the royal society...
I'd love to know more and can pull a few quotes if you find it.

[SueA]

Here's a link to the journal Simon.
http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/c...24r4j3t7l2610/

[SimonCole]

Thanks Sue I'll have a go downloading it though my Uni access.