[Biochemistry of the evolutive cycle of Triatoma infestans. IX. Composition of cuticular hydrocarbons compared to other Triatominae].

The hydrocarbon composition of epicuticular lipids of different species of Triatomini were determined and compared by gas-liquid chromatography. T. infestans, T. delpontei, T. rubrovaria, T. sordida, T. guasayana and T. vitticeps from infestans subgroup and T. pallidipennis from rubrofasciata, were studied. All these species had in common the same kind of hydrocarbons. The major components were n C29; n C31; 12+14+15+18 methyl C38; 15, 19+14, 18 dimethyl C39; 12+14+17+19 methyl C36 and 4 methyl C34. However, the relative proportions of selective hydrocarbons were significantly different among the species studied. These differences may be used with a chemotaxonomic criterion. Either the gas-liquid chromatographic curve of the cuticular hydrocarbons or the ratio of selective hydrocarbons may be used as fingerprints of the species considered.