Volatile secretions and epicuticular hydrocarbons of the beetle Ulomoides dermestoides

JUAN R GIROTTI; M LUCIANA VILLAVERDE; SERGIO J MIJAILOVSKY; NICOLÁS PEDRINI; M PATRICIA JUAREZ

COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART B, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.

Elsevier

Lugar: New York; Año: 2009 vol. 154 p. 381 - 396

1096-4959

Abstract Many species of tenebrionids produce and secrete a defensive volatile blend containing mainly benzoquinones and alkenes. In this study we characterized the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of the beetle Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae). Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) coupled to Capillary Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (CGC-MS) analysis was used to identify methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (MBQ), ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (EBQ), 1-tridecene (C13:1), and 1-pentadecene (C15:1), representing more than 90% of the volatile blend. We also used CGC-MS to analyze the epicuticular hydrocarbons of U. dermestoides. Saturated,unsaturated, and branched structures with chain lengths ranging from 13 to 43 carbons were detected. n-pentacosane (C25:0) and 9,11-pentacosadiene (9,11-C25:2) were the most abundant components, representing more than 40% of the cuticular hydrocarbons. Keywords: SPME–CGC, benzoquinone, alkanes, alkadienes, DMDS.