biostudies-literatureBoeve JLAcademy of Finland | Biotieteiden ja Ympäristön Tutkimuksen Toimikunta (Research Council for Biosciences and Environment)17636https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6281571biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)Phytophagous insects tend to be either cryptic and solitary, or brightly colored and gregarious, as a defense against vertebrate predators. Here, we tested whether potent defensive chemicals produced de novo by larvae of Argidae and Pergidae sawflies have influenced the evolutionary relationship between larval appearance and levels of gregariousness. Phylogeny-based correlation analyses indicated only a weak trend for solitary species to be cryptic, and for gregarious ones to be conspicuous. Numerous Argidae were cryptic-solitary or conspicuous-gregarious, whereas most Pergidae were conspicuous-gregarious. Both families also included not truly gregarious but aggregated species, i.e. with individuals more evenly distributed on the host plant. By considering two specific morphological traitsScientific reportsEndogenous toxins and the coupling of gregariousness to conspicuousness in Argidae and Pergidae sawflies.PMC6281571#294466Schmidt SShinohara ABoeve JLNyman TfalseEndogenous toxins and the coupling of gregariousness to conspicuousness in Argidae and Pergidae sawflies.Phytophagous insects tend to be either cryptic and solitary, or brightly colored and gregarious, as a defense against vertebrate predators. Here, we tested whether potent defensive chemicals produced de novo by larvae of Argidae and Pergidae sawflies have influenced the evolutionary relationship between larval appearance and levels of gregariousness. Phylogeny-based correlation analyses indicated only a weak trend for solitary species to be cryptic, and for gregarious ones to be conspicuous. Numerous Argidae were cryptic-solitary or conspicuous-gregarious, whereas most Pergidae were conspicuous-gregarious. Both families also included not truly gregarious but aggregated species, i.e. with individuals more evenly distributed on the host plant. By considering two specific morphological traits2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Dec2026-05-06T06:27:45.14Z2019-03-27T00:11:45ZS-EPMC62815713051893910.1038/s41598-018-35925-z