Abstract
Cuticular hydrocarbons from tiny pieces of insect cuticle can be analyzed directly by gas chromatography without solvent. The cuticle, sealed in a glass capillary, is introduced into the heated injector area of a gas Chromatograph, and the glass capillary crushed after heating for 4 min. Linked gas chromatography-mass spectrometry can be performed on selected parts of individual insects, such as an antenna, leg, or abdominal sclerite, to give qualitative and quantitative analysis of the substances on a small area of the body.
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Bagnères, A.G., Morgan, E.D. A simple method for analysis of insect cuticular hydrocarbons. J Chem Ecol 16, 3263–3276 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00982097
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00982097