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. 1978 Feb;75(2):905–908. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.2.905

Lucibufagins: Defensive steroids from the fireflies Photinus ignitus and P. marginellus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)*

Thomas Eisner †, David F Wiemer ‡, LeRoy W Haynes ‡, Jerrold Meinwald ‡
PMCID: PMC411366  PMID: 16592501

Abstract

Feeding tests with thrushes (Hylocichla spp.) led to the isolation of three novel steroid pyrones from fireflies (Photinus ignitus and P. marginellus) responsible, in part at least, for the unpalatability of these insects to the birds. The term lucibufagin is coined for these steroidal pyrones. The closest known relatives of lucibufagins are the familiar cardiotonic bufadienolides, found in certain toads and plants.

Keywords: arthropod defensive substances, antifeedants, bufadienolides, emetics, cardiotonics

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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