Abstract
The cuticle, which covers the body of an insect, serves many different functions, e.g., reception of signals from the environment, protection against desiccation and reduction of the penetration of chemicals, and protection from attack by microorganisms. The cuticle also provides motor functions analogous to the role of the bone in mammals. Waxes are present on the surface of the cuticle. These compounds are called “cuticular lipids,” though apart from just lipids, there are many other groups of chemical compounds. Surface waxes protect insects against water loss and play an important role in chemical communication with other insects. Some of them also exhibit antifungal and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the quantitative and qualitative profile of surface waxes can be used in chemotaxonomy. The analysis of insect surface waxes consists of the identification of individual chemical compounds and their quantitative determination. The surface waxes of insects consist of nonpolar compounds; hence the methodology of chemical analysis is typical for hydrophobic analytes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Szafranek, B., Maliński, E., Nawrot, J., et al. (2001). In Vitro effects of cuticular lipids of the aphids Sitobion avenae, Hyalopterus pruni and Brevicoryne brassicae on growth and sporulation of the Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Beauveria bassiana. ARKIVOC, 2(3), 81–94.
Hebanowska, E., Maliński, E., Dubis, E., et al. (1990). The cuticular hydrocarbons of the larvae of Anagasta kuehniella Z. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 95B, 699–703.
Gołębiowski, M., Maliński, E., Nawrot, J., et al. (2007). Identification of the cuticular lipid composition of the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 147B, 288–292.
Gołębiowski, M., Paszkiewicz, M., Grubba, A., et al. (2012). Cuticular and internal n-alkane composition of Lucilia sericata larvae, pupae, male and female imagines; application of HPLC-LLSD and GC/MS-SIM. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 102, 453–460.
Buckner, J. S., Mardaus, M. C., & Nelson, D. R. (1996). Cuticular lipid composition of Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa zea pupae. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. B, 114, 207–216.
Blomquist, G. J., Chu, A. J., & Remaley, S. (1980). Biosynthesis of wax in the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. Insect Biochemistry, 10, 313–321.
Howard, R. W., & Lord, J. C. (2003). Cuticular lipids of the booklouse, Liposcelis bostrychophila: Hydrocarbons, aldehydes, fatty acids, and fatty acid amides. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 29, 615–627.
Said, I., Costagliola, G., Leoncini, I., & Rivaul, C. (2005). Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and aggregation in four Periplaneta species (Insecta: Dictyoptera). Journal of Insect Physiology, 51, 995–1003.
Dubis, E., Maliński, E., Dubis, A., et al. (1987). Sex-dependent composition of cuticular hydrocarbons of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata say. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology. Part A, 87, 839–843.
Dubis, E., Maliński, E., Hebanowska, E., et al. (1987). The composition of cuticular hydrocarbons of the Khapra beetles, Trogoderma granarium. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology, 88B, 911–915.
Gibbs, A., & Pomonis, J. G. (1995). Physical properties of insect cuticular hydrocarbons: The effects of chain length, methyl-branching and unsaturation. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 112B, 243–249.
Eckstrand, I. A., & Richardson, R. H. (1980). Comparison of some water balance characteristics in several Drosophila species which differ in habitat. Envent Electronics, 9, 716–720.
Nelson, D. R., & Blomquist, J. G. (1995). Insect Waxes. w: Waxes: Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Functions (red. R.J. Hamilton). The Oily Press, Ltd., Dundee: 1–90.
Blomquist, G. J., & Bagnères, A.-G. (2010). (red.), Insect hydrocarbons. Biology, biochemistry, and chemical ecology. Cambridge University Press.
El-Sayed, A. M. (2019). The pherobase: Database of pheromones and semio-chemicals. http://www.pherobase.com. 2003–2019 (dostęp 18.05.2019).
Wickham, J. D., Lu, W., Zhang, L. W., et al. (2016). Likely aggregation-sex pheromones of the invasive beetle Callidiellum villosulum, and the related Asian species Allotraeus asiaticus, Semanotus bifasciatus, and Xylotrechus buqueti (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 109, 2243–2246.
Szczerbowski, D., Torrens, G. G., Rodrigues, M. A. C. M., et al. (2016). (1R,6R)-2,2,6-Trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octan-4-one, a new monoterpene lactone produced by males of the cocoa borer Conotrachelus humeropictus (Col.: Curculionidae). Tetrahedron Letters, 57, 2842–2844.
Uebel, E. C., Schwarz, M., Lusby, W. R., et al. (1978). Cuticular non-hydrocarbons of the female housefly and their evaluation as mating stimulants. Lloydia, 41, 63–67.
Suiter, D. R., Carlson, D. A., Patterson, R. S., & Koehler, P. G. (1996). Host–location kairomone from Periplaneta americana (L.) for parasitoid Aprostocetus hagenowii (Ratzeburg). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 22, 637–651.
Post, D. C., Mohamed, M. A., Coppel, H. C., & Jeanne, R. L. (1984). Identification of ant repellent allomone produced by social wasp Polistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 10, 1799–1807.
Bestmann, H. J., Haak, U., & Kern, E. (1995). 2,4-dimethyl-5-hexanolide, a trail pheromone component of the carpenter ant Camponotus herculeanus. Naturwissenschaften, 82, 142–144.
Raina, A. K., Stadelbacher, E. A., & Ridgway, R. L. (1989). Pheromone composition and pheromone-mediated male behavior of laboratory-reared and wild Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 15, 1259–1265.
McFareane, J. E. (1984). Repellent effect of volatile fatty acids of frass on larvae of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 10, 1617–1622.
Harborn, J. B. (1997). Ekologia biochemiczna. PWN.
Nojima, S., Shimomura, K., Honda, H., et al. (2007). Contact sex pheromone components of the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 33, 923–933.
Attygalle, A. B., Meinwald, J., Liebherr, J. K., & Eisner, T. (1991). Sexual dimorphism in the defensive secretion of a carabid beetle. Experientia, 47, 296–299.
Veith, H. J., Weiss, J., & Koeniger, N. (1978). A new alarm pheromone (2-decen-1-yl acetate) isolated from the stings of Apis dorsata and Apis florea (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Experientia, 34, 423–424.
Heath, R. R., & Landolt, P. J. (1988). The isolation, identification and synthesis of the alarm pheromone of Vespula squamosa (Drury) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and associated behavior. Experientia, 44, 82–83.
Mendel, Z. (1988). Attraction of Orthotomicus erosus and Pityogenes calcaratus to a synthetic aggregation pheromone of Ips typographus. Phytoparasitica, 16, 109–117.
Cross, J. H., West, J. R., Silverstein, R. M., et al. (1982). Trail pheromone of the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 8, 1119–1124.
Morgan, D., Brand, J. M., Mori, K., & Keegans, S. J. (2004). The trail pheromone of the ant Crematogaster castanea. Chemoecology, 14, 119–120.
Tokoro, M., Takahashi, M., & Yamaoka, R. (1994). (Z,E,E)-dodecatrien-1-ol: A minor component of trail pheromone of termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 20, 199–215.
Dunkelblum, E., Snir, R., Gothilf, S., & Harpaz, I. (1987). Identification of sex pheromone components from pheromone gland volatiles of the tomato looper, Plusia chalcites (Esp.). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 13, 991–1003.
Bestmann, H. J., Attygalle, A. B., Schwarz, J., et al. (1988). Identification of sex pheromone components of Spodoptera sunia Guenee (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 14, 683–690.
St. Leger, R. J. (1991). Integument as a barrier to microbial infections. In K. Binnington & A. Retnakaran (Eds.), Physiology of the insect epidermis (pp. 284–306). CSIRO.
Koidsumi, K. (1957). Antifungal action of cuticular lipids in insects. Journal of Insect Physiology, 1, 40–51.
Smith, R. J., & Grula, E. A. (1982). Toxic components on the larval surface of the corn earworm (Heliothis zea) and their effects on germination and growth of Beauveria bassiana. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 39, 15–22.
Saito, T., & Aoki, J. (1983). Toxicity of free fatty acids on the larval surfaces of two lepidopterous insects towards Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) VUILL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown et Smith (Deuteromycetes: Moniliales). Applied Entomology and Zoology, 18, 225–233.
Gołębiowski, M., Cerkowniak, M., Boguś, M. I., et al. (2013). Free fatty acids in the cuticular and internal lipids of Calliphora vomitoria and their antimicrobial activity. Journal of Insect Physiology, 59, 416–429.
Gołębiowski, M., Cerkowniak, M., Dawgul, M., et al. (2013). The antifungal activity of the cuticular and internal fatty acid methyl esters and alcohols in Calliphora vomitoria. Parasitology, 140, 972–985.
Gołębiowski, M., Dawgul, M., Kamysz, W., et al. (2012). The antimicrobial activity of the alcohols from Musca domestica. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 215, 3419–3428.
Urbanek, A., Szadziewski, R., Stepnowski, P., et al. (2012). Composition and antimicrobial activity of fatty acids detected in the hygroscopic secretion collected from the secretory setae of larvae of the biting midge Forcipomyia nigra (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Journal of Insect Physiology, 58, 1265–1276.
Boucias, D. G., & Pendland, J. C. (1991). Attachment of mycopathogens to cuticle. The initial event of mycoses in arthropod hosts. In G. T. Cole & H. C. Hoch (Eds.), The fungal spore and disease initiation in plants and animals (pp. 101–128). Plenum.
Lockey, K. H. (1988). Lipids of the insect cuticle: Origin, composition and function. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 89B, 595–645.
Nelson, D. R., Guershon, M., & Gerling, D. (1998). The surface wax composition of the exuviae and adults of Aleyrodes singularis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 119B, 655–665.
Chen, N., Bai, Y., Fan, Y.-L., & Liu, T.-S. (2017). Solid-phase microextraction-based cuticular hydrocarbon profiling for intraspecific delimitation in Acyrthosiphon pisum. PLoS One, 12, e0184243.
Cerkowniak, M., Boguś, M. I., Włóka, E., et al. (2017). Comparison of the volatile compounds of Dermestes maculatus and Dermestes ater pupae: Application of headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). ISJ-Invertebrate Survival Journal, 14, 303–311.
Gołębiowski, M., Cerkowniak, M., Ostachowska, A., et al. (2016). Determination of cuticular and internal fatty acids of Chorthippus brunneus males and females using HPLC-LLSD and GC-MS. Biomedical Chromatography, 30, 1318–1323.
Vrkoslav, V., Muck, A., Cvacka, J., & Svatos, A. (2009). MALDI imaging of neutral cuticular lipids in insects and plants. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 21, 220–231.
Gutierrez, A. C., Gołębiowski, M., Pennisi, M., et al. (2015). Cuticle fatty acid composition and differential susceptibility of three species of cockroaches to the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales). Journal of Economic Entomology, 108, 752–760.
Gołębiowski, M., Boguś, M. I., Paszkiewicz, M., & Stepnowski, P. (2011). Cuticular lipids of insects as potential biofungicides: Methods of lipid composition analysis. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 399, 3177–3191.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Gołębiowski, M., Stepnowski, P. (2022). Chemical Composition of Insect Surface Waxes: Biological Functions and Analytics. In: Buszewski, B., Baranowska, I. (eds) Handbook of Bioanalytics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63957-0_29-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63957-0_29-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-63957-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-63957-0
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics