Analysis of insect cuticular compounds by non-lethal solid phase micro extraction with styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers

J Chem Ecol. 2012 Apr;38(4):418-26. doi: 10.1007/s10886-012-0109-7. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Abstract

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons including relatively non-volatile chemicals play important roles in cuticle protection and chemical communication. The conventional procedures for extracting cuticular compounds from insects require toxic solvents, or non-destructive techniques that do not allow storage of subsequent samples, such as the use of SPME fibers. In this study, we describe and tested a non-lethal process for extracting cuticular hydrocarbons with styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers, and illustrate the method with two species of bees and one species of beetle. The results demonstrate that these compounds can be efficiently trapped by Chromosorb® (SUPELCO) and that this method can be used as an alternative to existing methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees / chemistry*
  • Green Chemistry Technology / methods*
  • Hydrocarbons / analysis*
  • Hydrocarbons / chemistry
  • Hydrocarbons / isolation & purification*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Solid Phase Microextraction / methods*
  • Tenebrio / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Polystyrenes
  • divinylbenzene-polystyrene copolymer