Investigation of cuticular hydrocarbons from Bagrada hilaris genders by SPME/GC-MS

The cuticular hydrocarbons of male and female Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were investigated, by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Measurements were done with fiber coatings of different polarity after optimization of headspace volumes and extraction temperatures. This resulted in the use of polyacrylate fiber, 22-ml vial as the sample holder, and an extraction temperature of 150 °C. The analytical procedures allowed identification of 13 peaks, corresponding to a homologous series of n-alkanes (nC 17-nC29). The hydrocarbon profiles of male and female B. hilaris were qualitatively equal, but marked sex-specific quantitative differences were observed for some of the linear alkanes. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.