HYDROCARBON PROFILES OF DIAPAUSING AND REPRODUCTIVE ADULT FACE FLIES (MUSCA-AUTUMNALIS)

Hydrocarbons present on the cuticle surface of adult face flies, Musca autumnalis, were identified by GC-MS and quantified by GC. Hydrocarbo ns consisted of n-, monomethyl, and dimethyl alkanes ranging in chain length from 23-29 carbons. Also present were monounsaturated. alkenes with chain lengths of 23, 25, 27, and 29 carbons. Wild-caught flies we re extracted and hydrocarbon profiles determined for both diapausing a nd, reproductive adult males and females. Few qualitative differences were found between males and females in the hydrocarbon profile. Diffe rences in percent composition were found between diapausing and reprod uctive flies in monounsaturated alkenes, 4 and 45%, n-alkanes, 24 and 37%, monomethylalkanes, 57 and 15%, and dimethylalkanes, 15 and 2%, re spectively, for females. A small difference was found in the total amo unt of hydrocarbon present, 7.3 +/- 0.6 and 9.7 +/- 1.1 mu g/fly, betw een diapausing and reproductive female flies, respectively. Adult male s also exhibited a similar change in hydrocarbon profile and amount be tween diapausing and reproductive flies. A laboratory strain of face f lies originating in Minnesota was also analyzed, and again similar dif ferences were observed in both male and female flies that were kept un der a reproductive or diapause condition. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.