Composition of the Wax Secreted by a Scale Insect, Drosicha corpulenta KUWANA (Homoptera : Margarodidae)

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Abstract
White wax secreted by the adult female of Drosicha corpulenta was examined under scanning electron microscope. The dorsal surface this insect body was covered by numerous waxy threads, mostly in coil form and semi-tubular in shape. The wax was comprised of hydrocarbons (18%) and wax esters (82%); there were no unsaturated molecules. The hydrocarbon consisted of straight chain alkanes (70.5%) and 2-methylalkanes (27.6%); the major components were octacosane, 2-methyloctacosane and nonacosane, with a range of carbon numbers from CX27 to CX33. The principal wax ester was of chain length CX52, formed by 1-hexacosanol esterified with hexacosanoic acid.