Effect of solvent extraction time on the hydrocarbon profile of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and behavioural effects of 9-pentacosene and dodecane

Abstract

Hydrocarbons play a major role in the life cycle of insects. Their composition and concentration can be affected by several factors. Hydrocarbons are biosynthesized in oenocytes and subsequently transported to the cuticle of insects, such as Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). As the extraction procedure markedly affects the type and amount of hydrocarbon obtained we determined the association between the time taken to extract the maximum amounts of these compounds and the behaviour of D. suzukii. The required extraction time to reach a steady state is different for each hydrocarbon, which in most cases is more than one hour. On the other hand, if the entire hydrocarbon profile of D. suzukii needs to be investigated, extraction times significantly longer than one hour were required. By extending the extraction time 5 additional hydrocarbons were detected in D. suzukii for the first time. One of them, dodecane proved to be repulsive to D. suzukii. In addition, it took 3 h of extraction to determine the maximum value of 9-pentacosene, which is responsible for triggering mating behaviour in D. suzukii.

Keywords

• cuticle hydrocarbons
• bioassays
• extraction steady state