Cuticular hydrocarbons from six species of tephritid fruit flies

Cuticular alkanes obtained from larvae and adults of six species of tephritid fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens, A. suspensa, Ceratitis capitata, C. rosa, Dacus cucurbitae , and D. dorsalis were analyzed by gas chromatography. The same four major alkanes were shown to be present by capillary GC‐mass spectra in all Anastrepha and Ceratitis larvae. Profiles were obtained from individual larvae and adult specimens that showed statistical differences between species, whereas profiles of conspecific life forms including pupae of A. suspensa from different locations showed some similarities. Sexual dimorphism was not observed in alkanes extracted from adults. A novel series of alkadienes was found in all Anastrepha and Ceratitis but not in Dacus .