Fatty Acids of the Mosquito Anopheles freeborni1

Abstract

Fatty acid composition was determined in various developmental stages of two strains of Anopheles freeborni Aitken, one from the State of Washington (47° N lat.) and one from California (37° N). Tentative identification was based on similar emission peaks from gas chromatograms of test materials and authentic samples. Palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids collectively comprised at least 70% of total fatty acid. In both strains, aged females with identical temperature experience on short photoperiod had 11%–15% greater levels of principal unsaturated fatty acids than did females on long photoperiod conditions. Though differences in level were noted between sexes and various growth stages of the 2 strains, there was marked similarity between short photoperiod females of both strains maintained on sucrose for 10 days.