title: Differentiation between species of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex (Diptera: Culicidae) by analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons.
abstract: Lipids were extracted from 500 female Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis in n-hexane and the extracts examined by gas chromatographic analysis using a glass column packed with 3% OV-1 on a 100-200 mesh Gas Chrom Q which was maintained at 225 degrees C. Cuticular hydrocarbons consisted mostly of unbranched paraffins. There were differences between the distribution of compounds with 25-29 carbons. After adjusting the C27 peak to 100%, hydrocarbons C26 and C29 represent heights of 80 and 69% in An. gambiae compared with values of 49 and 95 % in An. arabiensis. Other small but consistent differences were also found. Investigations are being performed on extracts from smaller samples and on other species within the An. gambiae complex.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons