Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints

The Asian larch bark beetle, <i>I. subelongatus</i> Motschulsky, is a severe pest of various <i>Larix</i> species in its natural range. This study reports the degree of similarity among cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of six populations of <i>I. subelongatus</i&...

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Main Authors: Yuge Zhao, Chao Wang, Xinmeng Liu, Xu Lin, Dongdong Chu, Junyi Ding, Xiangbo Kong, Dafeng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/384
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author Yuge Zhao
Chao Wang
Xinmeng Liu
Xu Lin
Dongdong Chu
Junyi Ding
Xiangbo Kong
Dafeng Chen
author_facet Yuge Zhao
Chao Wang
Xinmeng Liu
Xu Lin
Dongdong Chu
Junyi Ding
Xiangbo Kong
Dafeng Chen
author_sort Yuge Zhao
collection DOAJ
description The Asian larch bark beetle, <i>I. subelongatus</i> Motschulsky, is a severe pest of various <i>Larix</i> species in its natural range. This study reports the degree of similarity among cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of six populations of <i>I. subelongatus</i> in northeastern China. Thirty individual or isomeric mixtures of hydrocarbons were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The hydrocarbon components consist of straight-chain alkanes, alkenes, and methyl-branched hydrocarbons with carbon chain lengths ranging from 24 to 31. Among these, four CHCs (<i>n</i>-C<sub>25</sub>, 9-C<sub>27:1</sub>, <i>n</i>-C<sub>27</sub>, and 3-meC<sub>27</sub>) can serve as chemotaxonomic markers to identify <i>I. subelongatus</i>. No qualitative differences were detected between males and females in any of the six populations, but significant quantitative differences were observed in some CHCs. Phylogenetic analysis based on CHC profiles showed only minor differences compared to analysis based on partial mtDNA COI sequences regarding bark beetle species affinity. These results establish a rapid chemotaxonomic method and provide a basis for further investigations into the functions of CHCs in <i>I. subelongatus</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-a2e59ef70d5a479ea3b99d3fd13dc3392025-08-20T03:13:55ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116438410.3390/insects16040384Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary HintsYuge Zhao0Chao Wang1Xinmeng Liu2Xu Lin3Dongdong Chu4Junyi Ding5Xiangbo Kong6Dafeng Chen7State Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaCollege of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaState Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaState Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaState Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaState Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Silviculture in Downstream Areas of the Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaThe Asian larch bark beetle, <i>I. subelongatus</i> Motschulsky, is a severe pest of various <i>Larix</i> species in its natural range. This study reports the degree of similarity among cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of six populations of <i>I. subelongatus</i> in northeastern China. Thirty individual or isomeric mixtures of hydrocarbons were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The hydrocarbon components consist of straight-chain alkanes, alkenes, and methyl-branched hydrocarbons with carbon chain lengths ranging from 24 to 31. Among these, four CHCs (<i>n</i>-C<sub>25</sub>, 9-C<sub>27:1</sub>, <i>n</i>-C<sub>27</sub>, and 3-meC<sub>27</sub>) can serve as chemotaxonomic markers to identify <i>I. subelongatus</i>. No qualitative differences were detected between males and females in any of the six populations, but significant quantitative differences were observed in some CHCs. Phylogenetic analysis based on CHC profiles showed only minor differences compared to analysis based on partial mtDNA COI sequences regarding bark beetle species affinity. These results establish a rapid chemotaxonomic method and provide a basis for further investigations into the functions of CHCs in <i>I. subelongatus</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/384bark beetlescuticular hydrocarbonchemotaxonomic characteristicspopulation divergence
spellingShingle Yuge Zhao
Chao Wang
Xinmeng Liu
Xu Lin
Dongdong Chu
Junyi Ding
Xiangbo Kong
Dafeng Chen
Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
Insects
bark beetles
cuticular hydrocarbon
chemotaxonomic characteristics
population divergence
title Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
title_full Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
title_fullStr Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
title_full_unstemmed Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
title_short Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of <i>Ips subelongauts</i> in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints
title_sort cuticular hydrocarbons of six geographic populations of i ips subelongauts i in northeastern china similarities and evolutionary hints
topic bark beetles
cuticular hydrocarbon
chemotaxonomic characteristics
population divergence
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/384
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