Defensive chemicals of two species of Trachypachus Motschulski.
Analyses of pygidial gland contents of two species of a previously uninvestigated family of beetles (Trachypachidae) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that their chemistry is similar to that reported from many members of the family Carabidae. Nevertheless, the composition of defensive gland fluids of the two species Trachypachus slevini and T. gibbsii differs sufficiently to distinguish between the two species solely on the basis of their defensive chemistry. The major components of T. slevini glandular fluid are methacrylic, tiglic, and octanoic (= caprylic) acids, together with the hydrocarbon (Z)-9-pentacosene. In contrast, the glandular contents of T. gibbsii contain a rather unique mixture of polar and nonpolar compounds, the principal constituents of which are methacrylic and ethacrylic acids (= 2-ethylacrylic acid), together with 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethyl methacrylate, 2-phenylethyl ethacrylate, and (Z)-9-pentacosene.
Attygalle
Athula B
AB
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, USA. aattygal@stevens.edu
Wu
Xiaogang
X
Ruzicka
Josef
J
Rao
Sheetal
S
Garcia
Silvina
S
Herath
Kithsiri
K
Meinwald
Jerrold
J
Maddison
David R
DR
Will
Kipling W
KW
D000818:Animals; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D003437:Crotonates / Q000032:analysis; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012015:Reference Standards; D013045:Species Specificity; D014835:Volatilization
D002210:Caprylates; D003437:Crotonates; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008689:Methacrylates; C008384:methacrylic acid; C009489:tiglic acid; C031492:octanoic acid