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Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CUTICULAR SURFACE WAX PORES AND THE WAXY PARTICLES OF THE DUSTYWING, SEMIDALIS FLINTI

Author
item NELSON, DENNIS - USDA-ARS
item FREEMAN, THOMAS - ND STATE UNIV
item BUCKNER, JAMES - USDA-ARS
item Hoelmer, Kim
item Jackson, Charles
item HAGLER, JAMES - USDA-ARS

Submitted to: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2003
Publication Date: 9/22/2003
Citation: NELSON, D.R., FREEMAN, T.P., BUCKNER, J.S., HOELMER, K.A., JACKSON, C.G., HAGLER, J.R. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CUTICULAR SURFACE WAX PORES AND THE WAXY PARTICLES OF THE DUSTYWING, SEMIDALIS FLINTI. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: The adult dustywing Semidalis flinti, a small relative of lacewings, is a predator of sweetpotato whiteflies that feed on and damage many ornamentals and crops in the southwestern U.S. Like its prey, the dustywing produces waxes which give its body a 'dusty' coating. Ribbons of waxy material is extruded from pores found in clusters on the abdomen. Pores also are present on the antennae. As the wax extends a short distance out of the pore it begins to curl and then breaks free from the extruding ribbon to form the circular waxy particles. The adults use the particles to cover all parts of their body except for their eyes and lightly coat their antennae. The wax is composed of a lipid portion consisting of free fatty acids, especially the 24-carbon fatty acid, tetracosanoic acid. Minor lipid classes are hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols and unidentified material. Dustywing wax is chemically very different from waxes produced by their whitefly prey. The purpose of the wax production is unknown.

Technical Abstract: The adult dustywing, Semidalis flinti Meinander (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae), a predator of the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, begins producing circular-shaped waxy particles after eclosion. The waxy material, whose function is unknown, is extruded from individual pores found in clusters on the abdomen. Pores also are present in two rows of three pores on the frontalis and two pores on the first segment of each antennae. The pores have a rosette-like appearance and each pore extrudes dual waxy ribbons. As each ribbon extends a short distance out of the pore it begins to curl back on itself until the end makes contact with the ribbon. The curled end then breaks free from the extruding ribbon to form the circular waxy particles with fluted edges approximately 2.75 µm diameter. The adults use the particles to cover all parts of their body except for their eyes and appear to lightly coat their antennae. The lipid portion of the particles consists largely of free fatty acids, almost exclusively the 24-carbon fatty acid, tetracosanoic acid. Minor lipid classes are hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols and unidentified material. Wax composition differs significantly from that of whiteflies.