Background: The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is one of the world’s most serious stored grain insect pests. A method of early and rapid identification of red flour beetle in stored products is urgently required to improve control options. Specific chemical signals identified as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are released by the beetle can serve as biomarkers. Methods: The Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) technique and the analytical conditions with GC and GCMS were optimised and validated for the determination of VOCs released from T. castaneum. Results: The 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS SPME fibre was selected for extraction of VOCs from T. castaneum. The efficiency of extraction of VOCs was significantly affected by the extraction time, temperature, insect density and type of SPME fibre. Twenty-three VOCs were extracted from insects in 4 mL flask at 35 ± 1°C for four hours of extraction and separated and identified with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The major VOCs or chemical signals from T. castaneum were 1-pentadecene, p-Benzoquinone, 2-methyl- and p-Benzoquinone, 2-ethyl. Conclusion: This study showed that HS-SPME GC technology is a robust and cost-effective method for extraction and identification of the unique VOCs produced by T. castaneum. Therefore, this technology could lead to a new approach in the timely detection of T. castaneum and its subsequent treatment.

中文翻译：

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一种使用顶空-SPME 技术分析红面粉甲虫 Tribolium castaneum (H.) 中挥发性有机化合物 (VOC) 的新方法

背景：红粉甲虫Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (鞘翅目：Tenebrionidae)是世界上最严重的储粮害虫之一。迫切需要一种早期快速识别储存产品中红粉甲虫的方法，以改进控制选项。甲虫释放的被识别为挥发性有机化合物 (VOC) 的特定化学信号可以作为生物标志物。方法： 顶空固相微萃取 (HS-SPME) 技术和 GC 和 GCMS 的分析条件被优化和验证，用于测定从 T. castaneum 中释放的 VOC。结果： 选择 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS SPME 纤维来提取海棠中的 VOC。VOCs的提取效率受提取时间、温度、昆虫密度和SPME纤维类型的显着影响。从昆虫中提取 23 种挥发性有机化合物，置于 4 mL 烧瓶中，在 35±1°C 下提取 4 小时，并用气相色谱-质谱法进行分离和鉴定。来自 T. castaneum 的主要 VOC 或化学信号是 1-十五碳烯、对苯醌、2-甲基和对苯醌、2-乙基。结论：本研究表明，HS-SPME GC 技术是一种用于提取和鉴定由 T. castaneum 产生的独特 VOC 的可靠且具有成本效益的方法。因此，该技术可以为及时发现T. castaneum及其后续治疗提供一种新方法。对苯醌，2-甲基-和对苯醌，2-乙基。结论：本研究表明，HS-SPME GC 技术是一种用于提取和鉴定由 T. castaneum 产生的独特 VOC 的可靠且具有成本效益的方法。因此，该技术可以为及时发现T. castaneum及其后续治疗提供一种新方法。对苯醌，2-甲基-和对苯醌，2-乙基。结论：本研究表明，HS-SPME GC 技术是一种用于提取和鉴定由 T. castaneum 产生的独特 VOC 的可靠且具有成本效益的方法。因此，该技术可以为及时发现T. castaneum及其后续治疗提供一种新方法。