Cuticular Lipids for Species Recognition of Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) I. Scapteriscus didactylus, Scapteriscus imitatus, and Scapteriscus vicinus

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Abstract
Whole-body cuticular extracts of S. didactylus and S. imitatus collected from Puerto Rico and of S. vicinus collected in Florida [USA], were analyzed by isothermal and temperature programmed gas chromatography [GC]. Calculated Kovats indices indicated an homologous series of straight-chain and branched-chain alkanes in the cuticular lipids of each mole cricket. No differences were found between the sexes of species, but small variations in qualitative and quantitative patterns were present among individuals. The profiles of GC peaks were easily distinguishable providing data for species and region of origin recognition and supporting morphological and acoustical evidence that the crickets represent 3 spp.