Fatty acid compositions of phospholipids and triacylglycerols from selected terrestrial arthropods.

The fatty acid compositions of phospholipids and triacylglycerols from selected orthognath spider tissues, scorpion body segments, whole millipedes, and whole labidognath spiders were determined. The major components were C16 and C18 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids as well as C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The eicosanoid precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 were present in substantial proportions of phospholipids in all tissues examined. The fatty acid profiles of these terrestrial arthropods differ markedly from corresponding profiles of terrestrial insects in that substantially greater proportions of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids are present in the organisms in this study. This finding supports the idea that maintaining low proportions of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids is a special condition of terrestrial insects.