Hexane extracts of whole body wash of male and female moths of Earias vittella and Spodoptera litura were analysed separately by gas chromatography for determining their hydrocarbon profile, which showed the presence of straight chain saturated hydrocarbons ranging from C8 to C35. (0.02 µg/g to 2579 µg/g). The GC studies of male E. vittella revealed the presence of 6 hydrocarbons ranging from C12 to C29. Dodecane (C12) was present in highest concentration 72.02 µg/g followed by tridecane (C13) and nonadecane (C19) whereas in female whole body wash recorded a total of 9 hydrocarbons ranging from C9 to C31. Concentration of dodecane (C12) was the highest 76.80 µg/g followed by nonadecane (C19). Whole body wash of male S. litura revealed the presence of 17 hydrocarbons ranging from C8 to C35. Highest concentration of pentadecane (C15) 2579.87 µg/g followed by octane (C8) 1000.22 µg/g was recorded whereas in female S. Litura, six saturated hydrocarbons ranging from C9 to C25 were detected. Concentration of dodecane (C12) was the highest 100.67 µg/g, followed by tridecane (C13) 52.07 µg/g. Generally, the concentrations of hydrocarbons and numbers were quite high in male S. litura whole body wash. From the study, it is inferred that qualitative and quantitative differences in the hydrocarbons of the host or prey insects may be responsible for their preference or non-preference by their natural enemies
Earias vittella, Saturated hydrocarbons, Spodoptera litura
