Fatty Acids of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)1

The fatty acid composition of whole body fat was compared for termites sampled from 10 field colonies. Gas chromatographic analyses of the methyl esters revealed the presence of more than 25 compounds. The mean values for the major components were: 10.2% palmitic, 3.2% palmitoleic, 5.8% stearic, 58.6% oleic, and 10.4% linoleic acid. Although the overall general pattern was quite similar, differences among the colonies were apparent. Triglyceride was the predominant lipid class for all colonies.