title: Volatile secretions and epicuticular hydrocarbons of the beetle Ulomoides dermestoides.
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 (C(13:1)), and 1-pentadecene (C(15:1)), 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 (C(25:0)) and 9,11-pentacosadiene (9,11-C(25:2)) were the most abundant components, representing more than 40% of the cuticular hydrocarbons.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (CCT La Plata CONICET-UNLP), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: M Luciana
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Girotti
authors.forename: Sergio J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mijailovsky
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pedrini
authors.forename: M Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Juárez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons