Abstract
The cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are expressed on insect cuticle and provide protection from desiccation and abrasion. The CHC profiles are species-specific and vary in each insect. Forensic entomologists have utilized varying expressions of CHCs to determine the age as well as to delimit insects. This review focuses on the role of CHCs in species identification and aging in the field of forensic entomology.
Highlights
The cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are expressed on insect cuticle along with other compounds such as esters, alcohol, and free fatty acids [1]
The insect hydrocarbons are long linear molecules with varying chain lengths. It is a mixture of saturated compounds such as n-alkanes, mono, di- or tri-methyl alkanes or unsaturated compounds like alkenes, alkadienes and more rarely methyl-branched alkenes [7]
It has been observed that environment and internal factors shape the CHC profiles of insects
Summary
The cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are expressed on insect cuticle along with other compounds such as esters, alcohol, and free fatty acids [1]. As the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are not static and change with each development stage (i.e., from egg to adult), scientists are attempting to develop a model that could be used in estimating the age of larvae or pupae and increasing the accuracy of PMI calculations.
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