Cuticular and internal n-alkane composition of Lucilia sericata larvae, pupae, male and female imagines: application of HPLC-LLSD and GC/MS-SIM

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research Vol. 102; no. 4; pp. 453 - 460
• Main Authors: Gołębiowski, M., Paszkiewicz, M., Grubba, A., Gąsiewska, D., Boguś, M.I., Włóka, E., Wieloch, W., Stepnowski, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2012
• Subjects: Alkanes - analysis; Animals; Biochemistry; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Carbon; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Diptera - chemistry; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; Insecta; Insects; Invertebrates; Larva - chemistry; Larvae; Lipids; Lipids - analysis; Liquid chromatography; Lucilia sericata; Male; Physiology. Development; Pupa - chemistry; n-alkanes; Lucilia sericata; HPLC-LLSD; SIM; GC/MS; Insecta; HPLC chromatography; Cuticle; Male; Larva; Calliphoridae; Arthropoda; Alkane; Female; Nymph; Chemical composition; Invertebrata; Diptera
• ISSN: 0007-4853; 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485311000800

The composition of cuticular and internal n-alkanes in Lucilia sericata larvae, pupae, and male and female imagines were studied. The cuticular and internal lipid extracts were separated by HPLC-LLSD, after which the hydrocarbon fraction was identified by GC/MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) and total ion current (TIC) modes. The cuticular lipids of the larvae contained seven n-alkanes from C23 to C31. The major n-alkane in L. sericata larvae was C29 (42.1%). The total cuticular n-alkane content in the cuticular lipids was 31.46 μg g−1 of the insect body. The internal lipids of L. sericata larvae contained five n-alkanes ranged from C25 to C31. The most abundant compound was C27 (61.71 μg g−1 of the insect body). Eighteen n-alkanes from C14 to C31 were identified in the cuticular lipids of the pupae. The most abundant n-alkanes ranged from C25 to C31; those with odd-numbered carbon chains were particularly abundant, the major one being C29:0 (59.5%). Traces of eight cuticular n-alkanes were present. The internal lipids of L. sericata pupae contained five n-alkanes, ranging from C25 to C31. The cuticular lipids of female imagines contained 17 n-alkanes from C12 to C30. Among the cuticular n-alkanes of females, C27 (47.5%) was the most abundant compound. Four n-alkanes, with only odd-numbered carbon chains, were identified in the internal lipids of females. The lipids from both sexes of L. sericata had similar n-alkane profiles. The cuticular lipids of adult males contained 16 n-alkanes ranging from C13 to C31. C27 (47.9%) was the most abundant cuticular n-alkanes in males. The same n-alkanes only with odd-numbered carbon chains and in smaller quantities of C27 (0.1%) were also identified in the internal lipids of males. The highest amounts of total cuticular n-alkanes were detected in males and females of L. sericata (330.4 and 158.93 μg g−1 of the insect body, respectively). The quantities of total cuticular alcohols in larvae and pupae were smaller (31.46 μg g−1 and 42.08 μg g−1, respectively). The internal n-alkane contents of larvae, pupae, and male and female imagines were significantly higher than the cuticular n-alkane contents (153.53, 99.60, 360.06 and 838.76 μg g−1 of the insect body, respectively).