MAJOR DEFENSIVE CYANOGEN FROM PARAFONTARIA-LAMINATA-ARMIGERA VERHOEFF(XYSTODESMIDAE, POLYDESMIDA)

Analysis of the dichloromethane extract of Parafontaria laminata armig era Verhoeff (Xystodesmidae) revealed five components as possible defe nsive substances. The chemicals were identified as benzaldehyde, mande lonitrile, benzoyl cyanide, mandelonitrile benzoate and benzoic acid, among which mandelonitrile was the major constituent (ca. 83% of the t otal, on average). Benzoyl cyanide, known as a characteristic componen t of Xystodesmidae, was the second major compound (ca. 16% of the tota l, on average). Quantities of each component differed between sexes. M ales contained twice as much of these defensive compounds as females d id, in spite of being smaller.