Developmental changes in the fatty acid composition of the larval lipid of the house cricket Acheta domesticus (L.).

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of larvae of Acheta domesticus (L.) at two distinct ages (12 days and 30 days) was determined. No appreciable age differences were observed in the composition of fatty acids from lipid extracts; palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids were found to be the major fatty acids, together accounting for about 90% of the total. However, distinct age differences were found in the fatty acid composition of neutral lipid components. The most marked developmental change was a reduction from 34.5% to 10.9% in the myristic acid content of the monoglyceride. High concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were found in at least three neutral lipid components, and considerable alterations in the concentration of these fatty acids occurred during development.