Fatty acid profiles of main lipid classes in adult Chrysomela vigintipunctata (Scopoli) (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

The fatty acid composition of the willow leaf beetle Chrysomela vigintipunc tata (Scopoli) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is presented in this paper. Fatt y acids in the: total lipid extract, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids and polar lipids were compared. One hundred and fifteen fatty acids were ident ified in the total lipids. The mixture comprised compounds with normal and branched-chains of 12-30 carbon atoms and zero to six double bonds in diffe rent positions in the carbon chain. Substantial amounts of unsaturated eico sanoic fatty acids known as important precursor of eicosanoids in insects w ere detected in the lipids as were biologically significant positionally is omeric dienes, trienes and tetraenes of the series (n-3) and (n-6) of C16, C18, and C22 fatty acids. Also present was a mixture of hydroxy-FA. Triacyl glycerols contained mostly saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Polyu nsaturated fatty acids were found mostly in free fatty acids and especially in polar lipids.