Neutral lipid composition of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fab.), as affected by its habitual parasite, Cardiochiles nigriceps viereck

Abstract

• 1.

  1. Neutral lipids of haemolymph and tissue of nonparasitized and parasitized Heliothis virescens (Fab.) and its insect parasite, Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck, were fractionated into individual classes by a combination of silicic acid and Florisil® column chromatography.

• 2.

  2. Triglycerides were the predominant fraction in all groups and accounted for 48–60 per cent of the neutral lipid matter. Sterol esters were second to triglycerides in solid tissue and haemolypmh samples and made up 10–18 per cent of the total neutral lipids. These two fractions were followed closely by the free fatty acids (8–9 per cent) fraction.

• 3.

  3. Fatty acid analysis of the different neutral lipid spectra revealed the presence of two major fatty acids (palmic and oleic acid) and several minor fatty acids (myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic and linoleic acid).

• 4.

  4. In general, the fatty acid content of the parasite resembled that of nonparasitized host tissue and haemolypmh.

• 5.

  5. The free fatty acid fraction of the neutral lipid spectrum was the most representative fraction found in the host and parasite.