Effect of age and sex on the production of internal and external hydrocarbons and pheromones in the housefly, Musca domestica.

The epicuticular and internal waxes of male and female houseflies were examined by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at closely timed intervals from emergence until day-6 of adulthood. New components identified included tricosan-10-one, 9,10-epoxyheptacosane, heptacosen-12-one, a series of odd-carbon numbered dienes from C31 to C39, several positional isomers of monoenes including (Z)-9- and 7-pentacosene and a number of methyl- and dimethylalkanes. (Z)-9-tricosene appears in internal lipids prior to appearing on the surface of the insect, suggesting that it is transported in the hemolymph to its site of deposition on the epicuticle.

Dufour's gland and poison gland chemistry of the myrmicine ant,Messor capensis (Mayr).

The Cape harvester ant,Messor capensis (Mayr), is widespread in the more arid regions of southern Africa, where it forms trails many meters long and harvests considerable quantities of seeds. The poison gland contains primarily the alkaloid, anabaseine, with minor amounts of the related alkaloid, anabasine, and an unidentified compound. The Dufour's gland contains predominantly alkanes and alkenes of carbon chain length 12-23.