Kenneth S. Brown, kennesb@okstate.edu1, Robin D. Madden, rdm0918@okstate.edu1, Jack W. Dillwith, jwd9890@okstate.edu1, Bradford M. Kard, kard@okstate.edu1, and Brian T. Forschler, bfor@arches.uga.edu2. (1) Oklahoma State University, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 127 Noble Research Center, Stillwater, OK, (2) University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, 413 Biological Sciences building, Athens, GA
ABSTRACT
Preparation techniques for extracting cuticular hydrocarbons from subterranean termites for chemotaxonomic studies are evaluated. Hydrocarbon traces from frozen and dried specimens are compared. Lipid extracts from 200 subterranean termite workers dried at 70oC for 6 hours and extracted with n-hexane for 10-min contained components that were uniquely internal and showed similarity to total hydrocarbon traces. Hydrocarbon profiles from intact brush-collected termites that were frozen at -20oC prior to lipid extraction contained no internal components when visualized by thin-layer chromatography. The possibility of internal hydrocarbon contamination due to cuticular damage during desiccation and aspiration is discussed. Preparation methodologies that ensure extraction of only cuticular components are proposed.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae
Reticulitermes flavipes (eastern subterranean termite)
Keywords: Cuticular hydrocarbons, Thin-layer chromatography
