Examination of the pain producing amines in the venomous hairs or spines of Japanese urticating caterpillars

Abstract

High performance liquid chromatography was used in Japan to assay quantitatively histamine and serotonin in the hairs or spines of 12 Japanese species of urticating lepidopterous larvae, belonging to 6 genera and 4 families, that were collected in 1980-84. Histamine was detected in all the species except 4 species of Lasiocampidae, while serotonin was not detected in any of the species. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: With the exception of 4 species of Lasiocampidae all species of Japanese urticating caterpillars examined (4 families, 6 genera, 12 species) in a quantitative assay by high performance chromatography had histamine in hairs or spines. None of the species had detectable serotonin.Carolyn A. Brown