The nonpolar egg wax lipids of the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (canestrini)

Abstract

About 40% of the lipids of the egg wax of Boophilus microplus are nonpolar and comprise hydrocarbons (10%) and wax esters (90%). The hydrocarbon fraction is 87% unbranched alkanes, the major components being n-nonadecane (10.8%), n-eicosane (12.1%), and n-heneicosane (9.8%). This fraction also contains 2,4,6-cholestatriene (4.6%). The majority of the acids are branched (77%) the major components being 12-methyl-tetradecanoic (16.3%) and branched hexadecanoic acids (28%). The major alcohols are n26:0 (20.4%), n28:0 (47.3%) and n36:0 (18.2%). A steroid possibly 2,4,6-cholestatrien-25-ol (5.6%), is also present.