Dihydromatricariate-based triglycerides, glyceride ethers, and waxes in the australian soldier beetle,Chauliognathus lugubris (Coleoptera: Cantharidae).

The soldier beetleChauliognathus lugubris is shown to contain triglycerides and glyceride ethers of 8-dihydromatricaria acid, and waxes of the C12 homolog, of this acid, as well as the previously reported free acid. The triglycerides contain one, two, or three dihydromatricariate moieties, with any remaining positions esterified with normal fatty acids. The glyceride ethers were monostearyl ethers of glycerol esterified with dihydromatricaria acid and oleic or linoleic acid. The waxes, which also include a dihydromatricaria chromophore in the alcohol moiety, occur only in the females and are present in paired accessory glands in the abdomen. The ethers are restricted to females and appear to be associated with developing eggs. The triglycerides are much more abundant in females than males. Triglycerides, glyceride ethers, and waxes represent about 95% of the dihydromatricariate moiety (average, ca. 590 μg) in females with free acid the remainder; in males free acid is present to over 50% (ca. 22 μg) and the remainder is triglyceride (ca. 15 μg). Larvae contain mainly tridihydromatricariate-substituted triglyceride and a smaller quantity of the free acid.