Cuticular hydrocarbons of eight species of north american cone beetles,Conophthorus hopkins

Abstract

A study to determine the degree of similarity and/or diversity among eight of the 15 described species ofConophthorus is reported. Cuticular hydrocarbons were evaluated forC. conicolens, C. ponderosae, C. cembroides, C. edulis, C. radiatae, C. coniperda, C. resinosae, andC. banksianae. Seventy-eight individual and isomeric mixtures of hydrocarbons were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, includingn-alkanes, alkenes, alkadienes, 2- or 4-methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, and single-component and isomeric mixtures of internally branched mono-, di-, and trimethylalkanes. Differences in alkenes and mono-, di-, and trimethylalkanes can be used easily to separate the eight species.Conophthorus conicolens andC. ponderosae contain the most complex blends. Hydrocarbon patterns in three geographically separated populations ofC. ponderosae, each from a different host, are qualitatively identical with the exception of a homologous series of 3,7-dimethylalkanes from adults collected fromPinus lambertiana cones. The latter could comprise a sibling species. Hydrocarbon mixtures of two eastern species,C. resinosae andC. banksianae, are qualitatively identical, supporting the suspicion thatC. banksianae may not be a valid species. Closely relatedC. cembroides andC. edulis have similar combinations of hydrocarbons except for a unique and abundant alkene (C27∶1) inC. edulis and two dimethyhexacosanes inC. cembriodes.