Very long-chain methyl-branched alcohols and their acetate esters in pupal internal lipids of developing Coleoptera, Anthonomus grandis and Cylindrocopturus adspersus, and Diptera, Cochliomyia hominivorax and Musca domestica

Abstract

Mono- and dimethyl-branched primary alcohols from C28 to C56 were identified in the internal lipids of developing mid-stage pupae of two species of Coleoptera; the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis and the sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus, and of two species of Diptera; the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, and the house fly, Musca domestica. Novel very long-chain dimethyl-branched alcohols (VLMA; C36–C56) were characterized for the first time in these two orders. The major VLMA component was 26,38-dimethylpentacontanol in the boll weevil, 28,38-dimethylpentacontanol in the sunflower stem weevil, and 26,36-dimethyloctatetracontanol in both the screwworm and house fly. These alcohols were six to ten carbons longer than similar alcohols previously reported for Lepidoptera. No terminally-branched or trimethyl-branched alcohols similar to those previously characterized in Lepidoptera were detected.