Polyunsaturated hydrocarbons in the stable fly.

Three triply-unsaturated hydrocarbons were identified from cuticular lipids of male and mixed-sex stable flies,Stomoxys calcitrans. The major compound, (Z,Z)-1,7,13-pentacosatriene, and two minor compounds, (Z,Z)-1,7,13-tetracosatriene and (Z,Z)-1,7,13-tricosatriene, were synthesized. Samples of male and female stable flies that differed in age, seasonality, geographic origin, rearing conditions of adults, and methods of extraction were analyzed for the presence of these triolefins. Females were found to have small quantities of the same C25 triolefin, which appeared to be identical to that in males. No evidence was seen for attraction of males or females to natural or synthetic triolefins.