The pigments of Tetranychus cinnabarinus boisd. (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

• 1.

  1. The pigments of the spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus and of the bean leaves the mites are feeding upon were investigated.

• 2.

  2. Leaves of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were found to contain α-carotene, β-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5,6-epoxide, violaxanthin and neoxanthin.

• 3.

  3. Besides chlorophylls a and b two chlorophyll derivatives thirteen carotenoids were isolated and identified from T. cinnabarinus.

• 4.

  4. α-Carotene, β-carotene, lutein, lutein-5,6-epoxide, violaxanthin and neoxanthin are plant derived carotenoids found in extracts of T. cinnabarinus.

• 5.

  5. From saponified extract of this spider mite three major keto-carotenoids were identified: 3,4-diketo-β-carotene, 3,4,4′-triketo-β-carotene and astacene. In the organism they are present in the form of esters of 3-hydroxy-4-keto--gb-carotene, 3-hydroxy-4,4′-diketo-β-carotene and astaxanthin respectively.

• 6.

  6. Very small amounts of four other carotenoids were found: echinenone, isocryptoxanthin, a not identified monoepoxide and a diepoxide, possibly 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxy-β-carotene.

• 7.

  7. A tentative scheme for the metabolism of carotenoids in T. cinnabarinus is given.