Predators can sequester and use novel toxins from exotic non-coevolved prey

Here, we chose a well-known system of invasive species to test whether non-coevolved predators can sequester and use toxins from exotic prey. Together with the invasive prickly pear plants, cochineal bugs (Dactylopius spp.) are spreading worldwide from their native range in the Americas. These insects produce carminic acid, a defensive anthraquinone that some specialized predators of cochineal bugs sequester for their own defense. We carried out a series of experiments to test whether non-coevolved predators in the exotic range of cochineal bugs can also sequester carminic acid and potentially benefit from this substance.
We designed a series of experiments to test whether non-coevolved predators that feed on exotic cochineal bugs can sequester carminic acid and use it to release it on demand and repel their potential enemies. We first identified and quantified the resident predators that exploit cochineal bugs in the Mediterranean basin, an area invaded by cochineal bugs. Then, we dete..., , , # Data from: Use of a novel toxin sequestered from exotic prey by a non-coevolved predator

This collection gathers different datasets that have been used to generate the paper \"Use of a novel toxin from exotic diet by a non-coevolved predator\". These data have been collected by ngel Plata between 2020 and 2022.

Each file folder contains the data used for the different sections explained in detail in the methodology of the above-mentioned paper.

Folder 1 (two data sets): Exploitation of cochineal bugs by resident predators
Folder 2 (one data set): Sequestration of carminic acid by C. montrouzieri
Folder 3 (two data sets): Deterrence of carminic acid against C. montrouzieri potential enemies

Besides the data, each folder includes several files:
README_data_collection: it explains the methodology for collecting the data.
README_files_description: it describes each file contained in the folder and the structure of the data. When necessary, the calculation sheets and the codes related to...