Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement

Samburu resin harvesters in northern Kenya maintain that frankincense resin flow from <i>Boswellia neglecta</i> and <i>Commiphora confusa</i> is induced by insect larval activity. Observations on the insects’ larval behaviour support these claims. During the frankincense harv...

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Main Authors: Hilary Sommerlatte, Ben-Erik Van Wyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/1/58
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author Hilary Sommerlatte
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
author_facet Hilary Sommerlatte
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
author_sort Hilary Sommerlatte
collection DOAJ
description Samburu resin harvesters in northern Kenya maintain that frankincense resin flow from <i>Boswellia neglecta</i> and <i>Commiphora confusa</i> is induced by insect larval activity. Observations on the insects’ larval behaviour support these claims. During the frankincense harvest, buprestid beetle larvae, identified as a <i>Sphenoptera</i> species, are found under <i>B. neglecta</i> resin, eating the monoterpene-rich inner bark, which apparently stimulates the trees to produce copious amounts of fresh resin. The same behaviour was observed with cerambycid beetle larvae, identified as <i>Neoplocaederus benningseni</i> Kolbe, on <i>C. confusa</i> trees. Remarkably, these insects have developed the capacity to digest the resin-saturated inner bark and overcome the toxic, repellent characteristics of oleo-monoterpenes. The frankincense resin also appears to act as a protective covering during the insects’ larval and pupal stages. Excessive tree damage was not noted from these insect invasions. Even though the tree species are from different genera, the resin produced by both is black, with a very similar aromatic chemical profile. The question thus arises as to whether the larval feeding behaviour of these beetle species has an influence, not only on the physical appearance but also on the chemical composition of the resins.
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spelling doaj.art-9a0c377596704fcab882716a52a5d42e2023-11-23T13:31:22ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-01-011415810.3390/d14010058Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin InducementHilary Sommerlatte0Ben-Erik Van Wyk1Arbor Oils of Africa, P.O. Box 24, Naro Moru 10105, KenyaDepartment of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2006, South AfricaSamburu resin harvesters in northern Kenya maintain that frankincense resin flow from <i>Boswellia neglecta</i> and <i>Commiphora confusa</i> is induced by insect larval activity. Observations on the insects’ larval behaviour support these claims. During the frankincense harvest, buprestid beetle larvae, identified as a <i>Sphenoptera</i> species, are found under <i>B. neglecta</i> resin, eating the monoterpene-rich inner bark, which apparently stimulates the trees to produce copious amounts of fresh resin. The same behaviour was observed with cerambycid beetle larvae, identified as <i>Neoplocaederus benningseni</i> Kolbe, on <i>C. confusa</i> trees. Remarkably, these insects have developed the capacity to digest the resin-saturated inner bark and overcome the toxic, repellent characteristics of oleo-monoterpenes. The frankincense resin also appears to act as a protective covering during the insects’ larval and pupal stages. Excessive tree damage was not noted from these insect invasions. Even though the tree species are from different genera, the resin produced by both is black, with a very similar aromatic chemical profile. The question thus arises as to whether the larval feeding behaviour of these beetle species has an influence, not only on the physical appearance but also on the chemical composition of the resins.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/1/58Buprestidae larvaeBurseraceaeCerambycidae larvae<i>Boswellia neglecta</i><i>Commiphora confusa</i>frankincense resin inducement
spellingShingle Hilary Sommerlatte
Ben-Erik Van Wyk
Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
Diversity
Buprestidae larvae
Burseraceae
Cerambycidae larvae
<i>Boswellia neglecta</i>
<i>Commiphora confusa</i>
frankincense resin inducement
title Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
title_full Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
title_fullStr Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
title_full_unstemmed Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
title_short Observations on the Association between Some Buprestid and Cerambycid Beetles and Black Frankincense Resin Inducement
title_sort observations on the association between some buprestid and cerambycid beetles and black frankincense resin inducement
topic Buprestidae larvae
Burseraceae
Cerambycidae larvae
<i>Boswellia neglecta</i>
<i>Commiphora confusa</i>
frankincense resin inducement
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/1/58
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