The composition of lipid profiles in different developmental stages of Dermestes ater and Dermestes maculatus and their susceptibility to the entomopathogenic fungus Conidiobolus coronatus

Abstract

Insects from the Dermestidae family (Dermestes ater and Dermestes maculatus) are synanthropic insects, which are household, agricultural and warehouse pests. Their lipidomics and the insects’ ability to use compounds present in their bodies to protect them against pathogens are not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to determine the composition of compounds present in the bodies of two insect species, Dermestes ater and Dermestes maculatus, by the MALDI technique. Several free fatty acids and acylglycerols were found to be present as a result of the research. Significant differences in the composition and number of identified compounds have been shown, depending on the tested species and on the development stage. In lipids of D. ater, a greater variety of free fatty acids were found than in those of the second species. Biological studies have determined the high resistance of both species of Dermestidae to fungal infection with Conidiobolus coronatus. These results provide baseline data for further studies on the possible role of lipids.