Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Tobias Moyneur, Kevin Giloni, Dong-Hwan Choe This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7429450/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), is one of the world’s most damaging invasive species that belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae. Current control strategies for L. humile are reliant on neurotoxic insecticides; however, their use is increasingly limited due to their environmental impacts and subsequent regulatory restrictions. Juvenile hormone analogs, such as methoprene, may offer a possible alternative solution to this problem due to their low toxicity to non-target organisms and more favorable environmental profiles. While some JHAs have been tested against several myrmicine ants, their effects on other subfamilies, such as Dolichoderinae, remain understudied. Only one peer-reviewed publication exists evaluating methoprene's effect on Argentine ant colonies in the laboratory, reporting increased mortality in adult workers. However, the study did not explore potential physiological mechanisms underlying this observation. Research findings from other insect taxa suggest that juvenile hormone and their synthetic analogues may disrupt adult physiology by altering lipid metabolism and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, key traits involved in desiccation resistance and chemical communication. The current study investigated the effects of methoprene on the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in L. humile . To administer methoprene in a controlled manner, small colony fractions housed in sealed enclosures were exposed continuously to methoprene vapor for 21 days. Cuticular hydrocarbons were then extracted from adult workers and queens and quantified using gas chromatography. Methoprene exposure significantly reduced the total cuticular hydrocarbon quantity in both castes, suggesting disruption to lipid metabolic processes linked to cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis. These findings may provide a foundation to further explore the physiological impacts of methoprene and other juvenile hormone analogues on Argentine ants and other pestiferous dolichoderine ants. Biological sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology Biological sciences/Zoology Linepithema humile gas-chromatography invasive species desiccation resistance n-alkane chemical ecology juvenile hormone analogue Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), is widely recognized as one of the most destructive invasive species worldwide 1 , 2 . Native to South America, this highly adaptable dolichoderine ant has successfully colonized every continent, except Antarctica, particularly in regions with a Mediterranean climate 3 . Their global spread, aided by human activity, has resulted in expansive unicolonial networks of cooperating ants that have effectively displaced native ant species and continue to disrupt local biodiversity 3 , 4 . In addition to being a major nuisance pest in urban areas 5 , Argentine ants threaten agricultural systems by tending honeydew-producing pests resulting in increased crop damage and pest outbreaks 6 , 7 . Conventional control methods for Argentine ants often involve various spray products containing neurotoxic insecticides 8 , which primarily target and kill foraging workers upon contact 9 . These control methods are both a common and convenient tool for pest control operators due to their ease of application and rapid initial population knockdown. However, this approach is not free from several drawbacks, including short-term effectiveness, non-specificity, and environmental contamination 10 – 12 . In contrast, baiting provides a more targeted approach than the insecticidal sprays by allowing foraging workers to recruit to the bait, collect the toxicant, and transport it back to the colony, where it is shared with queens, brood, and non-foraging nestmates 13 . The transfer of toxicant via trophallaxis in one of baiting’s key advantages, as it allows us to impact the pest population at its source by reaching individuals that would otherwise remain unaffected 13 , 14 . To ensure the toxicant is effectively distributed throughout the colony, effective baits must be palatable, non-repellent, and slow-acting (delayed toxicity) 15 . However, baiting does have several notable drawbacks, such as increased maintenance requirements, the need for repeated applications, and reduced efficacy when alternative food sources are present 5 . Baits containing active ingredients (AIs) such as fipronil, boric acid, indoxacarb and thiamethoxam have been shown to be effective against Argentine ant workers 16 – 18 . However, their efficacy in killing reproductive queens is highly dose dependent. Laboratory bioassays investigating baiting effects on queen mortality found that sufficient lethal distribution of the bait’s AI to queens was only achieved when colonies were starved prior to baiting, likely due to increased bait uptake under those conditions 17 . Alternatively, baits formulated with insect growth regulators (IGRs), which do not kill adults immediately, allow workers to continue distributing the IGR throughout the colony increasing the likelihood that it reaches non-foraging members of the colony at an effective dose 19 , 13 . Juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) such as pyriproxyfen, fenoxycarb, and (S)-methoprene (hereafter methoprene) are IGRs that disrupts insect development by mimicking the action of endogenous juvenile hormone (JH) 20 – 22 . These compounds interfere with molting, metamorphosis, and reproduction. Unlike neurotoxic insecticides, JHAs do not act immediately; instead, they kill insects by preventing successful metamorphosis, often by disrupting the final molting process and thereby blocking adult emergence 22 . In addition, JHAs have been shown to reduce ovary size and inhibit egg laying in queens 23 , 24 . JHAs offer several advantages, including low toxicity to off-target organisms, minimal environmental persistence, and a safer ecotoxicological profile, particularly in aquatic systems 25 , 10 , 26 – 28 . Methoprene and pyriproxyfen have been incorporated into commercial ant bait products 29 . JHA baits have proven effective against several invasive pest ant species within the subfamily Myrmicinae, including Solenopsis invicta 30 , Wasmania auropunctata 31 , and several Monomorium species 23 . In Monomorium pharaonis , a single application of a pyriproxyfen-containing bait resulted in reduced egg production, arrested egg development, nymph mortality, and queen mortality in laboratory colonies 32 . In laboratory observations of S. invicta , methoprene bait treatment reduced pupal abundance (due to worker cannibalism), suppressed egg production, and increased the proportion of the female reproductives 33 . However, the efficacy of JHA appears to vary widely across different ant taxa. JHA-containing baits have shown limited efficacy for ant species within the subfamily Formicinae 29 , 34 . For example, field applications of a pyriproxyfen-containing bait (Distance plus ant bait, 5kg/ha) initially reduced Anoplolepis gracilipes populations by 31% within 90 days 35 . However, after 90 days the population began to recover and subsequent applications failed to provide significant long-term effects. Similarly, 0.5% methoprene-baited (Engage ++ [Sumitomo]) laboratory assays revealed a 39% reduction in egg laying among reproductive A. gracilipes compared to untreated controls 29 . However, no difference in ovary size was detected between control and treatment. Similarly, field baiting trials (1% methoprene) targeting Camponotus pennsylvanicus were largely ineffective, only yielding a 20% reduction in population size after two years of continuous baiting 34 . Besides subfamilies Myrmicinae and Formicinae, information on the effects of JHAs is largely unavailable for other subfamilies, with the exception of a single published study on the Argentine ant (subfamily Dolichoderinae). Greenberg et al. (2013) tested a commercial liquid bait containing 0.25% methoprene (Tango™, Wellmark International, Schaumburg, IL) to control field populations of Argentine ants in Southern California citrus groves 36 . In their study, bait stations were installed and maintained in the field for 116 days. After eight weeks post initial treatment, foraging activity in the treated plots was significantly lower than the untreated control plots. For reasons unexplored by the authors, post-treatment assessments of the field-collected colony fragments revealed that queen numbers in the treated plots were 93% lower than those in the control plots. In subsequent laboratory experiments, methoprene-baited (continuous baiting) colonies showed higher worker mortality than the control colonies at weeks 9, 12, and 16. Greenberg et al. (2013) did not investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the observed worker mortality. Even though methoprene has generally been studied for its effects on immature insect stages, several reports indicate that it can also negatively impact adult insect survivorship. In a fruit fly Anastrepha ludens , dietary methoprene significantly reduced adult survival in both sexes, with females being more strongly affected; methoprene-treated flies lived approximately 20% shorter than control flies 37 . Methoprene treated A. ludens also exhibited increased vulnerability to starvation and dehydration 37 . In Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, topical methoprene exposure reduced female longevity, while male survivorship was less affected 38 . In the social wasp Polybia occidentalis , topical methoprene applications had dose-dependent effects on worker survivorship, causing 100% mortality within 24 hours for doses greater than 25 µg per insect 39 . In ants, worker mortality following methoprene baiting has been reported for S. invicta (8 weeks) 33 , W. auropunctata (13 weeks) 40 , and Myrmicaria eumenoides (4–6 weeks) 41 . The potential mechanism of adult mortality after methoprene treatment was not examined in any of these studies. The observed mortality of adult insects following methoprene treatment might be related to disruptions in lipid metabolism. Lipids, particularly fatty acids stored as triglycerides, serve as a primary source of energy and metabolic water in insects 42 , 43 . Fatty acids also serve as precursors for key physiological compounds such as pheromones and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), which are essential for communication and protection against abiotic stress such as desiccation and pathogens 43 , 44 . Importantly, JH has been shown to influence lipid metabolism by suppressing lipid synthesis in the fat body 45 , potentially altering the availability of fatty acid–derived compounds such as CHCs. For example, topical methoprene application to adult female Gryllus firmus suppressed fatty acid synthesis 46 . Additionally, the ovaries of methoprene-treated G. firmus females were 150–400% heavier, while fat bodies were 50% lighter compared to control suggesting a methoprene-induced shift in energy allocation from lipid storage toward reproductive investment. Beyond its effects on lipid metabolism and energy allocation, methoprene has also been shown to alter CHC profiles in some social insects 47 , 48 . In Vespula vulgaris , topical methoprene application induced workers to develop CHC profiles more similar to those of conspecific queens 49 . Similarly, in P. occidentalis , topical methoprene treatment changed the proportion of specific CHCs associated with distinct behavioral roles 50 . Alterations in CHC profiles may stem from disruptions to lipid metabolism, as CHCs are a class of lipids synthesized from fatty acid precursors 51 . In the present study, we investigated the effects of methoprene vapor on CHC profiles in the Argentine ant. Cuticular hydrocarbons were selected as focal traits due to their critical roles in social communication and protection against environmental stressors (e.g., desiccation), as well as their value as a proxy for lipid metabolism 44 , 51 . Because CHCs vary in both structural features and functional roles, we further grouped hydrocarbons by class (e.g., n -alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes, alkenes) and chain length to determine whether methoprene exposure differentially affected distinct biosynthetic or functional subsets 44 . To avoid technical challenges associated with delivering methoprene in a carbohydrate-based aqueous bait (e.g., solubility or feeding deterrence issue) 52 , we developed an experimental nest designed to expose entire colony fractions to vapor-phase methoprene (2.36 × 10⁻⁴ mm Hg at 25°C) within a semi-sealed environment. The use of technical-grade (S)-methoprene also eliminated potential confounding effects from unknown ingredients present in commercial bait formulations 53 . After 21 days, CHCs were extracted and analyzed to assess the effects of methoprene vapor exposure on the CHC profiles of adult workers and queens. Material and Methods Colony collection and maintenance Colonies of L. humile were collected from two geographically distant (2.33km) citrus orchards (hereafter, sites A and B) on the University of California, Riverside campus. The first collection occurred in July – August 2022 (site A) and the second in February – March 2023 (site B). During these periods, two and four separate collections were conducted in site A and B, respectively (hereafter, version). Colony fragments were collected by transferring excavated ant nests to the laboratory using large (19-L) plastic buckets. The nest contents were placed inside large plastic containers (1.0 × 1.0 × 0.5 m) with Fluon-coated (PTFE-30, DISP30, BioQuip Products, Inc., Compton, CA) inner walls to prevent escape. As the soil dried over the subsequent five days, ants relocated into moist paster disks and wet pieces of paper towel positioned above the soil 54 . The relocated ants were then carefully shaken off the plaster disks and paper towels into a plastic container (26.5 x 30 x 10 cm) with the inner walls coated with Fluon. The field collected ants were maintained in the laboratory under a 12:12 h light-dark cycle at 22–23°C and 40–60% RH and served as the stock colony. The stock colony was equipped with 3–4 artificial nests constructed from plaster filled plastic cups (163 mL; 6 x 6.5 cm). To maintain adequate moisture, a dental cotton wick (8 cm) (Absorbal, Wheat Ridge, CO) was embedded in the plaster with the exposed end placed inside a weigh boat (50 mL) containing water 55 . Plastic cups (473 mL; 8 by 11 cm) containing moistened pieces of paper towel were also provided as a nesting location. The ants were fed ad libitum with 25% (wt/vol) sucrose water, canned tuna and, or powdered egg (Judee’s, Plain City, OH). The stock colony ants were used for experiments within 10 days of collection. Vapor exposure nests Vapor exposure nests were designed to exposure Argentine ants to methoprene vapor (Fig. 1 ). Each vapor exposure nest was created by making a 5-mm hole in the center of a Petri dish lid (50 x 9 mm, Pell Gelman, Aston, PA) and attaching the inverted cap of a 2-mL screw cap glass vial (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) over the hole using hot glue (AdTech Adhesive technologies, Hampton, NH). The rubber septum of the screw cap was replaced with a circular piece of brass wire cloth (Jelliff, Southport, CT) to prevent ants from accessing the vial’s contents. Methoprene was applied inside the glass vial (see Experimental setup), allowing methoprene vapor to diffuse into the petri dish. A 1–2 mm hole was made in the petri dish lid 1.5 cm away from the center and a small piece of cotton was pressed between the hole and a centrifuge cap glued to the bottom of the petri dish. This internally plugged hole on the lid allowed the sucrose solution and water to be provided from outside without opening the nest or letting ants escape. Experimental setup To prepare ants for methoprene exposure, several artificial nests were removed from the main stock colony box and transferred into a plastic container. Worker ants were then randomly aspirated from the sides of the container, briefly anesthetized with CO₂ (< 30 sec), and immediately transferred to the bottom of the vapor exposure nest. Each nest contained 640 ± 28 (mean ± SEM, n = 109) workers and a minimal amount of brood. For ants collected from site A, all replicates contained only worker and brood (no queens) (n = 42). For ants collected from site B, some replicates contained only workers and brood (n = 28), while others contained workers, brood, and seven queens per colony (n = 39). Once the ants recovered from anesthetization (~ 3 min), the lids were secured and 400 µL of 20% (wt/vol) sucrose was provided through the hole in the lid. After a 2-day acclimation period, 1 µL (S)-methoprene (Chem Service Inc, West Chester, PA) was applied to a folded strip of filter paper (5 x 0.6 cm) inside the GC vial. The vial was then inverted and screwed into the vial cap on the nest lid (Fig. 1 ). The fold in the filter paper ensured it remained suspended inside the vial, preventing the methoprene/filter paper from contacting the brass wire cloth in the cap. Control colonies received only clean filter paper strips. Each of the vapor nest received 150 µL of 20% sucrose once per week. To maintain moisture levels within nests, deionized water was added through the same hole as needed (~ 300 µL per week). Each vapor exposure nest was covered with an inverted plastic cup (162 mL) to slow the desiccation rate and cross-contamination. All vapor exposure nests were maintained in an insectary room maintained at 24°C and16:8 h light-dark cycle. Cuticular hydrocarbon extraction The treatment period within the vapor exposure nests continued for 21 days post initial setup. After this time, the nests were opened and the live workers and queens (i.e., individuals capable of walking without obvious impairment) were aspirated and stored inside 1.5-mL centrifuge vials at -20°C until CHC were extracted. Workers and queens were stored separately. For CHC extractions, a pooled group of 30 workers were briefly extracted for 1 min in a 75-mm glass tube (Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ) containing 100 µL hexane with 1 ng/µL n -eicosane as an internal standard. The tube was gently swirled throughout the extraction. The CHC containing hexane extract was then pipetted out and passed through a glass Pasteur pipette column (7 mm in diameter by 14.6 cm in length; Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ) containing 15–20 mg silica gel (60 Å pore size, 230–400 mesh, Whatman, USA) to remove non-hydrocarbon compounds. The same extraction procedure was followed for queens, with a pooled group of five individuals per extraction. The final CHC extracts were analyzed immediately. Chemical analysis For chemical analysis, 1 µL of the purified CHC extract was injected into an Agilent 7890 gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a fused silica capillary column (DB-5, 30 m × 0.25 mm inner diameter, Agilent J&W GC columns, Santa Clara, CA) and a flame ionization detector (FID). Helium was used as carrier gas (flow rate 1.8 mL/min). Samples were injected in splitless mode using an automatic liquid sampler, with the following temperature program: 100°C for 1 min, and then 10°C min − 1 to 300°C with 30 min hold. Extracts were also analyzed by GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Electron impact mass spectra (70 eV) were obtained using an Agilent 5975C mass selective detector interfaced to an Agilent 7890A gas GC with the column and temperature program previously described. Compounds were initially identified using GC-MS by matching retention times and reconstructed mass spectra to known standards and reference libraries. When additional confirmation was needed, Kováts retention indices were calculated and used alongside mass spectral data to support compound identification. All samples were subsequently analyzed using GC-FID for quantification under identical chromatographic conditions. Compound identities in FID chromatograms were inferred based on the retention times of compounds previously identified by GC-MS. Semi-quantitative analysis of CHCs were performed by normalizing peak areas to a known quantity of internal standard ( n -eicosane), which was pre-dissolved in the hexane used for all extractions 56 , 57 , 2 , 58 , 59 . To obtain per-ant values, normalized peak areas were divided by the number of individuals in each extraction. Peak area integrations were performed using MSD ChemStation (ver @.02.02.1431, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, California, USA) with a minimum peak area of 700, start threshold of 0.001 and stop threshold of 0.01. Statistical analysis Because ants from site A and B were collected at different locations during different seasons, they were treated as separate groups. As such, statistical analyses were performed independently for each site. Due to logistical constraints, including the need to stagger experimental start dates to avoid all replicates ending on the same day, experiments were conducted in multiple batches (version) introducing a possible batch effect. To account for this, version was included as a fixed effect in all statistical models. To evaluate the effect of methoprene treatment on total CHC quantity, a generalized linear model (GLM) with a gamma error distribution and log link function was used. Model significance was assessed using a likelihood ratio chi-square test. All hypothesis tests were two-sided with α = 0.05. Where multiple comparisons were made (class and chain-length post hoc GLMs), p-values were adjusted by the Holm method. Model fit and distributional assumptions were assessed with DHARMa residual diagnostics; no violations were detected. Next, CHCs were grouped by class ( n -alkane, alkene, monomethyl alkane, dimethyl alkane, and trimethyl alkane) or chain length (C17-C35). A permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) 60 with Euclidean distances (adonis2 function, vegan package) 61 was performed to assess methoprene’s effect on CHC groups. We used 10,000 permutations and verified exchangeability under the null. Compounds that co-eluted and could not reliably be assigned to a single CHC class or chain length were excluded from those corresponding analyses. However, coeluting compounds were retained in analysis of total CHC. Although the experimental design was not intended to assess the potential effect of queen presence on worker CHC profiles, the influence of queen presence and its potential interaction with methoprene treatment were evaluated statistically. Queen presence, and the interaction term (queen × treatment), were included in initial models to test for any confounding effects. The queen presence and interaction term had no significant effect and were therefore excluded from final analyses. Significant PERMANOVA results were followed up by post hoc GLMs to assess the effects of methoprene on individual CHC classes and chain lengths. The same GLM parameters described for total CHC analysis were used. For these models, CHC compounds below the detection threshold were assigned a value of zero. All statistical comparisons were conducted using R version 4.5.0 62 . Results Effects of methoprene on worker cuticular hydrocarbons Twenty-eight CHCs were identified and included in the analysis for workers (Table 1 and Fig. 2 ). To account for potential batch effects, version was retained as a covariate in all statistical models. Methoprene treatment significantly reduced the total CHC quantity in ants from both sites (A and B). In the workers collected from site A, CHC quantity decreased from 302.5 ± 17.0 ng in controls to 261.1 ± 12.4 ng in methoprene-treated ants (mean ± SEM per individual; GLM: X 2 (1) = 0.210, p = 0.049, n = 42). In the workers collected from site B, CHC quantity decreased from 361.3 ± 14.7 ng in controls to 307.9 ± 14.1 ng in the treated ants (mean ± SEM per individual; GLM: X 2 (1) = 0.419, p = 0.004, n = 67). Version also had a significant effect on total CHC quantity for both site A and B (site A GLM: X 2 (3) = 0.203, p = 0.053; site B GLM: X 2 (3) = 0.758, p = 0.002), indicating detectable variation across collections. To assess the effects of methoprene exposure on CHCs grouped by class and chain length, PERMANOVAs were performed using grouped CHC composition as a multivariate response variable. For site A, methoprene treatment significantly affected CHC profiles when grouped by class (PERMANOVA: F (1,39) = 4.944, p = 0.021) and chain length (PERMANOVA: F (1,39) = 4.664, p = 0.023). Version also had a significant effect on both class-level (PERMANOVA: F (1,39) = 3.804, p = 0.041) and chain length-level profiles (PERMANOVA: F (1,39) = 4.846, p = 0.022). For site B, similar patterns were observed. Methoprene treatment significantly affected CHC profiles by class (PERMANOVA: F (1,62) = 6.411, p = 0.007) and chain length (PERMANOVA: F (1,62) = 6.545, p = 0.008), version again contributed significantly to variation in both models (PERMANOVA: F (3,62) = 4.707, p = 0.002 for class; PERMANOVA: F (3,62) = 4.334, p = 0.003 for chain length). To assess whether the presence of a queen influenced worker CHC profiles in site B, queen presence was initially included as a covariate in the GLM for total CHC analysis and in PERMANOVA models for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. Queen presence had no significant effect on total CHC quantity (GLM: X 2 (1) = 0.002, p = 0.838, n = 67) or on CHCs grouped by either class (PERMANOVA: F (1,61) = 0.114, p = 0.891) or chain length (PERMANOVA: F (1,61) = 0.527, p = 0.533). In addition, there were no significant interaction effects between queen presence and treatment in any model (P > 0.1 for all cases). Based on these results, queen presence as a factor was excluded as a covariate from subsequent post hoc analyses. Post hoc analysis of worker cuticular hydrocarbons grouped by class and chain length To further investigate which CHC groups were most affected by methoprene treatment, post hoc GLMs were performed for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Results are summarized in Table 2 and Table 3. For ants from site A, methoprene treatment significantly reduced the quantity of n -alkanes, while other CHC classes were not significantly affected (Fig. 3 a). When CHCs were grouped by chain length, methoprene treatment resulted significant reduction in the midrange compounds, C25, C26, C27, C28, and C29. In contrast, the CHCs with chain lengths shorter (C17 and C19) or longer (C33, C35, and C37) than this midrange group were not significantly affected (Fig. 3 b). For site B, methoprene significantly reduced quantities of n -alkanes, monomethyl alkanes, and trimethyl alkanes, while alkenes and dimethyl alkanes were not significantly affected (Fig. 3 c). Similarly to workers from site A, when CHCs were grouped by chain length, significant reductions were observed for the midrange compounds (C26, C27, C28, C29, C31), and C33 (C33 approached significance after padj = 0.054). However, the CHCs with shorter (C17, C19, and C25) and longer (C35, and C37) chain lengths were not significantly affected (Fig. 3 d). Effects of methoprene on queen cuticular hydrocarbons Twenty-nine CHCs were identified and included in the analysis for queens (Table 4 and Fig. 4 ). As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Methoprene treatment significantly reduced total CHC quantity in queens, from 4,274.0 ± 219.7 ng in controls to 3,632.9 ± 167.9 ng in methoprene-treated queen (mean ± SEM per individual; GLM: X 2 (1) = 0.251, p = 0.012, n = 39). Version had a significant effect on total CHC quantity (GLM: X 2 (3) = 0.536, p = 0.004, n = 39). Methoprene significantly altered CHCs grouped by class (PERMANOVA: F (1,34) = 4.664, p = 0.026) and chain length (PERMANOVA: F (1,34) = 4.991, p = 0.022). Version also had a significant effect on CHCs when grouped by class (PERMANOVA: F (1,34) = 3.659, p = 0.014) and by chain length (PERMANOVA: F (1,34) = 5.058, p = 0.002). Post hoc analysis of queen cuticular hydrocarbons grouped by class and chain length To further investigate which CHC groups were most affected by methoprene in queens, post hoc GLMs were performed for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Results are presented in Tables 5 and 6 . Among CHC classes, a significant reduction was detected only for monomethyl alkanes in methoprene-treated queens (Fig. 5 a). Treatment and control CHC profiles were similar in quantities for n -alkane, dimethyl alkane, and alkene groups. This was in stark contrast to workers, where n -alkanes showed the greatest reduction in the treatment group. When CHCs were grouped by chain length, significant reductions were detected for C25, C26, C29, and C31 (Fig. 5 b). Discussion Exposure to vapor phase methoprene significantly altered the CHC profile of adult Argentine ant workers and queens. Methoprene treatment reduced total CHC quantity in both workers and queens by approximately 15%. Further analysis revealed that methoprene differentially affected hydrocarbons based on their class (e.g., n -alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes, and alkenes) and chain length. In workers, n -alkanes showed the greatest reductions, whereas in queens, monomethyl-branched alkanes were most affected. These caste-specific effects may reflect distinct physiological or regulatory roles of JH in workers versus queens. Previous studies examining methoprene-induced changes to CHC profiles in ants have focused primarily on shifts in relative composition rather than absolute quantity 41 , 48 . Although relative abundance data is useful for comparing CHC composition across individuals or treatments, it does not capture changes in overall CHC production. Because relative data inherently normalize each CHC to the total abundance, large shifts in one or a few compounds can distort the apparent levels of others, potentially misrepresenting their true quantitative changes. The present study is the first to demonstrate methoprene-induced reductions in absolute CHC abundance in ants. This novel finding provides insight into how JHAs such as methoprene may disrupt lipid-based physiological processes. Given the essential roles of CHCs in both desiccation resistance and social regulation, these reductions in absolute CHC abundance may have important downstream physiological and ecological consequences which are discussed in detail below. One of the most striking observations in this study was methoprene’s impact on n -alkanes in worker ants. After three weeks of vapor exposure, n -alkane quantities decreased by 30% in ants from site A and by 25% in ants from site B when compared to their corresponding controls. Reductions in this functionally important CHC class could have significant physiological consequences, particularly with respect to desiccation resistance. Due to their tight molecular packing, n -alkanes create an effective barrier to water 54 . Considering Argentine ants have relatively high cuticular permeability and susceptibility to desiccation compared to other native ant species in southern California 64 , the water barrier function of n -alkanes might be particularly crucial for their survival in warm and dry environments. The invasive spread and establishment of Argentine ants are strongly influenced by soil moisture and associated vegetation cover 65 . A survey of Argentine ant populations across California found that the abundance of n -alkanes and alkenes on their cuticular surface positively correlate with temperature, and negatively correlate with precipitation 2 . These finding support a protective role for these hydrocarbon classes in water retention and suggest the Argentine ants may adaptively regulate CHC synthesis, expression and transport in response to local environmental conditions. Similar patterns have been documented in other ant genera, such as Myrmica and Temnothorax , where workers reared under low-humidity conditions exhibited increased n -alkane proportions and improved desiccation tolerance 66 , 67 . Thus, it is possible that methoprene-induced reductions in n -alkanes may exacerbate the Argentine ant’s vulnerability to desiccation, potentially affecting colony survival in warm and dry environments. By compromising CHC-mediated water retention, methoprene exposure might reduce the Argentine ant’s capacity to invade and persist in arid environments. This warrants further investigation. The significant reduction in n -alkanes observed in methoprene-treated workers may also impair nestmate recognition in Argentine ants. Although n -alkanes are primarily associated with waterproofing, some studies suggest they can also function in chemical communication, including signaling caste identity in Pogonomyrmex barbatus 68 , 69 , mating status in Ectatomma tuberculatum 70 , and nestmate recognition in Formica japonica 71 . In the Argentine ant specifically, prior research indicates that n -alkanes may contribute to nestmate recognition. For example, Greene and Gordon (2007) demonstrated that Argentine ant workers respond aggressively toward cotton swabs impregnated with nestmate CHC extract spiked with n -alkane standard (C23-C30), whereas neither the CHC extract nor the n -alkane standard alone elicited aggression 72 . This finding suggests a potential role of these medium-chain n -alkanes in nestmate recognition. The observed reduction in monomethyl alkanes in methoprene-treated queens may have important implications for both desiccation resistance and chemical signaling. In contrast to workers, monomethyl alkanes were most affected in queens, exhibiting a 19% reduction in the treatment compared to the control groups. The effect of methoprene treatment on monomethyl alkanes was not consistent in workers (i.e., significant effect was detected only for the ants collected from site B), and their quantity change was less pronounced (13% reduction) when compared to the queen. Monomethyl alkanes differ structurally from n -alkanes by the presence of a single methyl group along the carbon chain. This branching point disrupts molecular packing, slightly lowers melting points, increases volatility relative to n -alkanes, and allows physical flexibility in the wax layer 73 , 74 . Additionally, because methyl branches can occur at different positions, methyl-branched alkanes are hypothesized to encode more structural information than linear n -alkanes 75 , 76 . As a result, monomethyl alkanes are thought to balance waterproofing efficiency with semiochemical function, making them well-suited for roles in both desiccation resistance and chemical signaling 77 , 78 . In the Argentine ant, it is well established that CHCs are involved in nestmate recognition among workers. In contrast, the role of CHCs in queen discrimination is less understood and has primarily been studied in the context of worker responses during queen adoption and annual execution events. In these contexts, CHC profiles appear to influence how workers assess and respond to reproductive females. Vásquez et al. (2009) demonstrated that workers displayed aggression towards both non-nestmate queens and nestmate queens treated with non-nestmate CHC extracts 79 . This aggression was statistically associated with quantitative shifts in monomethyl alkanes between nestmate and non-nestmate queens. This suggests that monomethyl alkanes may be involved in worker discrimination of queens during colony adoption of new queens. In addition to signaling colony identity, monomethyl alkanes are important in communicating queen’s fertility status. Fertility signals are clearly conveyed through CHC profiles in many eusocial insects 80 . In the Argentine ant, for example, the proportion of monomethyl alkanes increases during the onset of egg laying in queens 81 . Supporting this, Abril et al. (2018) found five CHCs that were significantly associated with Argentine ant queen’s egg-laying rates and oocyte development, including the monomethyl alkanes 5-MeC 27 and 5-MeC 29 82 . In the present study, methoprene exposure reduced the abundance of 5-MeC 27 by 17% (control: 109.3 ± 8.4 ng; methoprene: 90.9 ± 8.6 ng) and 5-MeC 29 by 22% (control: 802.4 ± 46.6 ng; methoprene: 626.4 ± 37.2 ng). These reductions suggests that methoprene may disrupt the production or regulation fertility-linked CHCs in queens. The remaining compounds identified by Abril et al. (2018) as fertility signals included two dimethyl alkanes (5,11-diMeC 29 and 5,11-diMeC 31 ) and one alkene (C 29:1 ). As a result of the temperature program used in the current study, 5,11-diMeC 29 and 5,11-diMeC 31 coeluted with terminally branched monomethyl alkanes (see peaks 14 and 22 in Table 4 ) and the identity of the 29-carbon alkene (C 29:1 ) could not be confirmed. As a result, the impact of methoprene on these hydrocarbons was not determined in the present study. However, based on the analyses with CHCs grouped by class, neither dimethyl alkanes nor alkenes showed significant reductions following methoprene exposure. Interestingly, dimethyl-branched CHCs were not significantly reduced by methoprene exposure in queens in the present study. Like monomethyl alkanes, dimethyl alkanes are important for queen signaling and colony-level reproductive regulation 83 . In addition to being correlated with egg-laying rates and oocyte development 81 , 83 , certain dimethyl alkanes, particularly 5,11-diMeC 29 and 5,11-diMeC 33 , have been linked to the queen killing by workers 84 . In this annual “queen execution” process, workers kill up to 90% of the colony’s queens 85 . This process is thought to reduce the inhibitory effects of queen pheromone on gyne production 83 . In their study, surviving queens possessed significantly higher levels of 5,11-diMeC 29 and 5,11-diMeC 33 compared to executed queens, suggesting that workers may use dimethyl alkanes to identify and eliminate less fecund individuals. Given their critical role in mediating queen fate, dimethyl alkanes may be under stricter physiological or endocrine regulation than monomethyl alkanes, potentially explaining their apparent stability under methoprene treatment. While these specific compounds were not directly quantified in the present study, their inferred functional importance may make them less susceptible to hormonal perturbation To evaluate whether methoprene affected CHCs differently based on chain length, compounds were grouped accordingly and analyzed. In workers from population A, methoprene significantly reduced CHCs with chain lengths C25–C29, while in workers from population B, significant reductions were observed in CHCs ranging from C26–C33. Shorter chain compounds (C17, C19) and very long chain compounds (C37) remained unaffected in both worker groups (Fig. 3 b and Fig. 3 d). In queens, a similar but more selective pattern was observed. Similar to workers, the longest chain hydrocarbons (C32–C35) were unaffected. However, methoprene selectively reduced a non-contiguous subset of medium-to-long chain CHCs (C25, C26, C29, C31), while adjacent chain lengths (C27, C28, C30) remained unchanged. These results might indicate that methoprene affects CHC expression in a chain length–dependent manner, but with caste-specific patterns. However, because each chain length group included various chemical classes these interpretations should be considered provisional. Long-chain CHCs are hypothesized to play a key role in nestmate recognition in Argentine ant workers. This idea was first proposed after workers that had fed on the cockroach Supella longipalpa were attacked by their nestmates. Subsequent analysis revealed that S. longipalpa possesses long-chain hydrocarbons (C35 and C37), which were transferred to the ants during feeding and triggered aggressive responses 86 , 87 . In the current study, methoprene had no significant impact on CHCs in this chain length range. Long-chain CHCs are also energetically costly to synthesize and are produced via elongation of shorter-chain precursors through conserved fatty acid biosynthetic pathways 44 . It is therefore possible that the three-week treatment period was insufficient to detect reductions in these compounds. Alternatively, these recognition-relevant CHCs may be under stricter physiological or endocrinological regulation, as alterations to them could carry significant social costs, such as impaired nestmate discrimination or increased intra-colony aggression. Further studies are needed to determine whether longer exposure or caste-specific regulatory mechanisms influence long-chain CHC stability under hormonal disruption. The chain-length specificity from methoprene exposure may reflect underlying disruption to CHC biosynthesis, a process highly conserved across insects and tightly linked to fatty acid metabolism 44 . CHCs are derived from fatty acid precursors through a series of enzymatic steps, including elongation, desaturation, reduction, and oxidative decarbonylation, primarily occurring in oenocytes 51 . Among the enzymes involved, elongases play a key role in determining CHC chain length by catalyzing the stepwise addition of two-carbon units to fatty acid precursors 88 . Importantly, JH has been shown to influence the activity of elongases and other biosynthetic enzymes critical for the production of long-chain alkanes 44 . In Drosophila melanogaster , allatectomized flies (lacking JH) had lower levels of long chain n -alkane (C23–C29) and increase levels of shorter chain dienes (C23, C25) 89 . Topical application of methoprene partially reversed this pattern by specifically increasing the abundance of longer chain CHCs. Similar hormone-mediated regulation of elongase activity may underlie the chain-length–specific CHC reductions observed in Argentine ant queens and workers. The present study advances our understanding of methoprene’s physiological effects in adult Argentine ants. Methoprene exposure significantly reduced the absolute quantity of CHCs in both worker ants and queens. Notably, this is the first study to report overall quantitative reductions in CHCs following methoprene treatment, whereas previous research has primarily focused on relative compositional changes. The specific CHC classes and chain lengths affected differed between castes, suggesting that JH may play distinct physiological roles in each caste. This pattern is well supported in highly eusocial Hymenoptera, where JH often mediates caste-specific functions and reproductive division of labor 90 . Given the ecological importance of CHCs in desiccation resistance, nestmate recognition, and reproductive signaling, such disruptions could have colony-level consequences. Future work should investigate the molecular pathways affected by methoprene, as well as potential behavioral and reproductive outcomes in treated colonies. Additional research is also needed to determine whether methoprene impacts other lipid-based compounds, such as fatty acids that serve as CHC precursors. Declarations Acknowledgements: Wethank Jocelyn Millar for generously offering his time and expertise in hydrocarbon identification. Sydney Mun was instrumental in the construction of the vapor nests and Andrew Staviski and Jair Mendez for insect collections and maintenance. We also thank Kathleen Campbell for purchasing all materials. We sincerely thank Matt Daugherty and Benjamin (Jeff) Ellis for generously sharing their statistical expertise. We thank the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, for supporting this research. The funding agencies do not necessarily recommend or endorse any opinion, commercial product, or trade name used in this paper. Funding Declaration: The project was funded in part by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (grant agreement number: 18-PML-R001) and the intramural research program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project accession number: 7003981). Author Contributions: T.M. and DH.C. conceived the study. T.M. designed the study. T.M. carried out the experiments, performed the chemical analyses, and analyzed the data. T.M. wrote the manuscript. DH.C. supervised the research and provided editorial feedback. Both authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. Competing Interests: T.M. and DH.C. declare no competing interests. Data Availability: The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Ethics Declarations: This study did not involve human participants or vertebrate animals. 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Peak number a Name Class Chain length 1 n -C 17 n -alkane C 17 2 XC 19:1 n -alkene C 19 3 n -C 25 n -alkane C 25 4 n -C 26 n -alkane C 26 5 n -C 27 n -alkane C 27 6 5-MeC 27 monomethyl alkane 7 b c 3-MeC 27 & Unknown monomethyl alkane/Unk 8 n -C 28 n -alkane C 28 9 n -C 29 n -alkane C 29 10 11-,13-,15-MeC 29 monomethyl alkane 11 5-MeC 29 monomethyl alkane 12 b 3-MeC 29 & 5,11-DiMeC 29 monomethyl/dimethyl alkane 13 7,11,15-TriMeC 29 trimethyl alkane 14 b c n -C 30 & 3,11/15-DiMeC 29 n -alkane/monomethyl alkane C 29 & C 30 15 n -C 31 n -alkane C 31 16 13-,15-MeC 31 monomethyl alkane 17 b 5-MeC 31 & 13,15-DiMeC 31 monomethyl/dimethyl alkane 18 b 3-MeC 31 & 5,13/17DiMeC 31 & 9,13,17-TriMeC 31 monomethyl/dimethyl/trimethyl alkane 19 7,11,13/15-TriMeC 31 trimethyl alkane 20 b c n -C 32 & 3,11/13-DiMeC31 & 5,13,17-TriMeC 31 n -alkane/dimethyl/trimethyl alkane C 31 & C 32 21 13-,15-,17-MeC 33 monomethyl alkane C 33 22 5,13/15/17-DiMeC 33 dimethyl alkane 23 7,11,13/15-TriMeC 33 trimethyl alkane 24 5,13,15-TriMeC 33 trimethyl alkane 25 13-,15-,17-MeC 35 monomethyl alkane C 35 26 b 5,13/15DiMeC 35 & 9,13,17-TriMeC 35 dimethyl/trimethyl alkane 27 5,13,15/17-TriMeC 35 trimethyl alkane 28 13-,15-MeC 37 monomethyl alkane C 37 IS n -C 20 n -alkane C 20 a Compounds are ordered by their retention time. See the chromatogram with corresponding number in Fig. 2 . b Coeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by class c Coeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by chain length Table 2 Effects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in worker ants from site A and B (grouped by class). Chain length Site A Site B Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Control Methoprene df/ resid χ² p -value padj Df/ resid χ² p -value Control Methoprene df/ resid χ² p -value padj Df/ resid χ² p -value n -alkane 75.3 ± 4.4 53.0 ± 2.4 1/40 1.273 < .001 < .001 1/39 0.021 0.560 41.3 ± 2.1 30.8 ± 1.5 1/65 1.417 < .001 < .001 3/62 1.617 < .001 monomethyl alkane 42.9 ± 2.7 39.5 ± 2.1 1/40 0.071 0.324 0.809 1/39 0.219 0.082 85.3 ± 3.7 74.2 ± 3.5 1/65 0.321 0.025 0.042 3/62 0.400 0.100 dimethyl alkane 19.4 ± 1.2 18.2 ± 1.0 1/40 0.046 0.425 0.707 1/39 0.289 0.045 29.3 ± 1.3 25.5 ± 1.2 1/65 0.331 0.022 0.054 3/62 0.427 0.079 trimethyl alkane 92.5 ± 5.7 88.5 ± 4.9 1/40 0.021 0.593 0.741 1/39 0.293 0.045 118.8 ± 6.2 103.9 ± 5.8 1/65 0.297 0.036 0.045 3/62 1.928 < .001 alkene 2.6 ± 0.5 2.7 ± 0.5 1/26 0.020 0.846 0.846 1/25 2.269 0.036 5.2 ± 0.3 4.4 ± 0.3 1/65 0.478 0.067 .067 3/62 1.213 0.036 Chain length Site A Site B Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Control Methoprene df/ resid χ² p -value padj Df χ² P-value Control Methoprene df/ resid χ² p -value padj Df χ² p -value C 17 0.5 ± 0.1 0.6 ± 0.1 1/40 0.182 0.610 0.838 1 3.489 0.0254 1.1 ± 0.1 1.1 ± 0.1 1/65 0.033 0.584 0.5843 3 1.823 0.001 C 19 1.7 ± 0.4 1.9 ± 0.5 1/26 0.020 0.846 0.846 1 2.300 0.0363 5.2 ± 0.3 4.4 ± 0.3 1/65 0.478 0.067 0.092 3 1.213 0.036 C 25 1.0 ± 0.2 0.6 ± 0.0 1/40 3.665 < .001 < .001 1 0.539 0.1695 0.4 ± 0.0 0.3 ± 0.0 1/65 0.381 0.244 0.268 3 0.538 0.556 C 26 2.1 ± 0.2 1.3 ± 0.1 1/40 2.621 < .001 < . 001 1 0.002 0.902 0.6 ± 0.0 0.4 ± 0.0 1/65 1.838 0.001 0.003 3 0.920 0.144 C 27 42.8 ± 2.7 29.4 ± 1.5 1/40 1.471 < .001 < . 001 1 0.03 0.524 20.5 ± 1.2 14.7 ± 0.0 1/65 1.879 < .001 < .001 3 2.355 < .0001 C 28 5.8 ± 0.3 4.1 ± 0.2 1/40 1.334 < .001 < . 001 1 0.029 0.442 2.6 ± 0.1 1.9 ± 0.1 1/65 1.556 < .001 < . 001 3 1.350 < .001 C 29 43.1 ± 2.5 31.3 ± 1.3 1/40 1.066 < .001 < . 001 1 0.071 0.266 29.9 ± 1.3 23.1 ± 1.3 1/65 1.081 < .001 < .001 3 1.103 < .001 C 31 50.6 ± 3.0 45.1 ± 2.4 1/40 0.142 0.141 0.259 1 0.254 0.049 64.1 ± 2.6 54.0 ± 2.4 1/65 0.479 0.004 0.009 3 0.234 0.260 C 33 78.4 ± 4.8 75.6 ± 4.3 1/40 0.014 0.660 0.806 1 0.327 0.034 130.7 ± 6.2 114.0 ± 5.7 1/65 0.310 0.030 0.054 3 0.925 0.003 C 35 63.0 ± 4.0 50.9 ± 3.2 1/40 0.027 0.538 0.846 1 0.247 0.063 87.4 ± 4.6 77.2 ± 4.2 1/65 0.254 0.053 0.084 3 1.912 < .0001 C 37 7.7 ± 0.5 7.5 ± 0.4 1/40 0.006 0.763 0.840 1 0.180 0.105 16.9 ± 0.9 15.2 ± 0.9 1/65 0.181 0.116 0.142 3 2.103 < .0001 Table 4. Identification of CHCs in queens used for analysis. Peak number a Name Class Chain length 1 n -C 25 n -alkane C 25 2 n -C 26 n -alkane C 26 3 n -C 27 n -alkane C 27 4 11-MeC 27 monomethyl alkane 5 5-MeC 27 monomethyl alkane 6 b 3-MeC 27 & 5,11-DiMeC 27 mono/dimethyl alkane 7 n -C 28 n -alkane C 28 8 4-MeC 28 monomethyl alkane 9 XC 29:1 alkene C 29 10 4–10/16-DiMeC 28 dimethyl alkane C 28 11 n -C 29 n -alkane C 29 12 11-,13-,15-MeC 29 monomethyl alkane 13 5-MeC 29 monomethyl alkane 14 b 3-MeC 29 & 5,11-DiMeC 29 mono/dimethyl alkane 15 3,9-DiMeC 29 dimethyl alkane 16 4-MeC 30 monomethyl alkane C 30 17 XC 31:1 alkene C 31 18 bc XC 31:1 & 4,12/14-DiMeC 30 alkene & dimethyl alkane C 30 & C 30 19 n -C 31 n -alkane C 31 20 13-,15-MeC 31 monomethyl alkane 21 5-MeC 31 monomethyl alkane 22 b 3-MeC 31 & 5,11/15-DiMeC 31 mono/dimethyl alkane 23 bc n -C 32 & 3,13/15-DiMeC 31 n -alkane & dimethyl alkane C 31 & C 32 24 3,7-DiMeC 31 dimethyl alkane C 31 25 4,14/16-DiMeC 32 dimethyl alkane C 32 26 13-,15-,17-MeC 33 monomethyl alkane C 33 27 5-MeC 33 monomethyl alkane 28 5-,11/17-DiMeC 33 dimethyl alkane 29 bc n -C 34 & 3,x-DiMeC 33 & 5,11/13,15-TriMeC 33 n- alkane/di/trimethyl alkane C 33 & C 34 30 13-,15-,17-MeC 35 monomethyl alkane C 35 IS n -C 20 n -alkane C 20 a Compounds are ordered by their retention time. See the chromatogram with corresponding number in Fig. 4 . b Coeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by class c Coeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by chain length Table 5 Effects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in queens (grouped by class) Class Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Control Methoprene df/ residual χ² p -value padj df/ residual χ² p -value n -alkane 1,248.0 ± 97.5 1,041.7 ± 49.0 1/37 0.310 0.063 0.126 3/34 0.300 0.341 monomethyl alkane 1,743.9 ± 92.1 1,419.3 ± 76.7 1/37 0.403 0.003 0.014 3/34 0.572 0.007 dimethyl alkane 386.1.3 ± 16.6 364.8 ± 21.3 1/37 0.023 0.264 0.264 3/34 1.028 < .0001 alkene 92.9.1 ± 7.2 83.0 ± 7.1 1/37 0.122 0.198 0.264 3/34 2.603 < .0001 Table 6 Effects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in queens (grouped by chain length). Chain length Quantity of CHCs (mean ± SEM; ng/ant) Treatment Version Control Methoprene df/ residual χ² p -value padj df/ residual χ² p -value C 25 5.5 ± 1.1 3.1 ± 0.3 1/37 3.228 < .001 0.002 3/34 5.781 < .0001 C 26 6.2 ± 0.6 4.7 ± 0.3 1/37 0.721 0.014 0.046 3/34 1.222 0.017 C 27 588.6 ± 47.9 482.5 ± 32.2 1/37 0.375 0.039 0.065 3/34 1.163 0.004 C 28 132.8 ± 6.1 126.5 ± 6.8 1/37 0.022 0.3103 0.345 3/34 1.161 < .0001 C 29 1,583.0 ± 98.0 1,289.0 ± 62.4 1/37 0.354 0.008 0.041 3/34 0.534 0.014 C 30 97.3 ± 5.3 84.1 ± 4.0 1/37 0.215 0.075 0.107 3/34 0.354 0.157 C 31 1,030.1 ± 52.1 883.3 ± 47.2 1/37 0.248 0.016 0.040 3/34 0.573 0.004 C 32 72.6 ± 4.1 71.1 ± 4.1 1/37 0.004 0.752 0.752 3/34 0.926 < .0001 C 33 298.4 ± 12.1 272.6 ± 17.8 1/37 0.078 0.031 0.062 3/34 1.129 < .0001 C 35 74.1 ± 3.5 70.1 ± 4.0 1/37 0.091 0.097 0.122 3/34 0.747 < .0001 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 04 Dec, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Nov, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 07 Nov, 2025 Editor invited by journal 24 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 25 Aug, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Aug, 2025 First submitted to journal 21 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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15:01:20","extension":"html","order_by":18,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":266461,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/4a86d861871ed1cf8241aae2.html"},{"id":96193612,"identity":"dda399b2-0d38-42df-a422-4b8cdd05a6de","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-18 15:01:19","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":188936,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDiagram of expanded components of the vapor exposure nest. (\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e) glass GC-vial, (\u003cstrong\u003eb\u003c/strong\u003e) strip of folded filter paper suspended in the middle of the vial, (\u003cstrong\u003ec\u003c/strong\u003e) circular brass cloth, (\u003cstrong\u003ed\u003c/strong\u003e) GC-vial cap with rubber septa removed, (\u003cstrong\u003ee\u003c/strong\u003e) hole, and (\u003cstrong\u003ef\u003c/strong\u003e) cotton inside centrifuge cap.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/bc4ca19c11836e7641a49270.png"},{"id":96252719,"identity":"d6cf06e6-8573-4345-9702-accda4b562e8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-19 07:41:23","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":134322,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eA representative chromatogram of worker CHCs. Each number represents an identified CHC used in the analysis (see Table 1). (\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e) Entire chromatogram and (\u003cstrong\u003eb\u003c/strong\u003e) zoomed in portion of the same chromatogram.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/f148789280e25760c361cf7a.png"},{"id":96252324,"identity":"811bd957-6c07-4e6e-b3d6-e74e411ba002","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-19 07:40:48","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":144999,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eQuantities (mean ± SEM) of worker CHCs. (\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e) site A grouped by class, (\u003cstrong\u003eb\u003c/strong\u003e) site A based on chain length, (\u003cstrong\u003ec\u003c/strong\u003e) site B based on class, and (\u003cstrong\u003ed\u003c/strong\u003e) site B based on chain length. Asterisks denote significant P-values (GLM: \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .05 *; \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01 **; \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .001 ***) and n.s. is not significant. Alkane – n-alkane; Monomethyl – monomethyl alkane; Dimethyl – dimethyl alkane; Alkene –alkene.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/c957de000d5c99330178a664.png"},{"id":96193618,"identity":"886efa0a-6ab6-41e1-a2b6-b8c4ea4fb3a3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-18 15:01:20","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":137637,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eA representative chromatogram of queen CHCs. Each number represents an identified CHC used in the analysis (see Table 4). (\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e) Entire chromatogram and (\u003cstrong\u003eb\u003c/strong\u003e) zoomed in portion of the same chromatogram.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/dfb9511849bcb8fb706e05d1.png"},{"id":96193621,"identity":"947d3a84-d4ce-4ed8-88f8-48339ece8f2f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-18 15:01:20","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":144903,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eQuantities (mean ± SEM) of queen CHCs. (\u003cstrong\u003ea\u003c/strong\u003e) Grouped by class, (\u003cstrong\u003eb\u003c/strong\u003e) grouped by chain length. Asterisks denote significant P-values (GLM: \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .05 *; \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01 **; \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; .001 ***) and n.s. is not significant. Alkane – n-alkane; Monomethyl – monomethyl alkane; Dimethyl – dimethyl alkane; Alkene –alkene\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/deb1977a65cbe11ede89a76a.png"},{"id":105755618,"identity":"4c2b7bfd-edd4-4bc6-8b2d-a384e1a36101","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-30 16:28:33","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2502979,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7429450/v1/357b87c9-1ccd-4312-b392-7ed05022f9c2.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Argentine ant, \u003cem\u003eLinepithema humile\u003c/em\u003e (Mayr), is widely recognized as one of the most destructive invasive species worldwide\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Native to South America, this highly adaptable dolichoderine ant has successfully colonized every continent, except Antarctica, particularly in regions with a Mediterranean climate\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Their global spread, aided by human activity, has resulted in expansive unicolonial networks of cooperating ants that have effectively displaced native ant species and continue to disrupt local biodiversity\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In addition to being a major nuisance pest in urban areas\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, Argentine ants threaten agricultural systems by tending honeydew-producing pests resulting in increased crop damage and pest outbreaks\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConventional control methods for Argentine ants often involve various spray products containing neurotoxic insecticides\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, which primarily target and kill foraging workers upon contact\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These control methods are both a common and convenient tool for pest control operators due to their ease of application and rapid initial population knockdown. However, this approach is not free from several drawbacks, including short-term effectiveness, non-specificity, and environmental contamination\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR11\" citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In contrast, baiting provides a more targeted approach than the insecticidal sprays by allowing foraging workers to recruit to the bait, collect the toxicant, and transport it back to the colony, where it is shared with queens, brood, and non-foraging nestmates\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The transfer of toxicant via trophallaxis in one of baiting\u0026rsquo;s key advantages, as it allows us to impact the pest population at its source by reaching individuals that would otherwise remain unaffected\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To ensure the toxicant is effectively distributed throughout the colony, effective baits must be palatable, non-repellent, and slow-acting (delayed toxicity)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, baiting does have several notable drawbacks, such as increased maintenance requirements, the need for repeated applications, and reduced efficacy when alternative food sources are present\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Baits containing active ingredients (AIs) such as fipronil, boric acid, indoxacarb and thiamethoxam have been shown to be effective against Argentine ant workers\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR17\" citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, their efficacy in killing reproductive queens is highly dose dependent. Laboratory bioassays investigating baiting effects on queen mortality found that sufficient lethal distribution of the bait\u0026rsquo;s AI to queens was only achieved when colonies were starved prior to baiting, likely due to increased bait uptake under those conditions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Alternatively, baits formulated with insect growth regulators (IGRs), which do not kill adults immediately, allow workers to continue distributing the IGR throughout the colony increasing the likelihood that it reaches non-foraging members of the colony at an effective dose\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJuvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) such as pyriproxyfen, fenoxycarb, and (S)-methoprene (hereafter methoprene) are IGRs that disrupts insect development by mimicking the action of endogenous juvenile hormone (JH)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These compounds interfere with molting, metamorphosis, and reproduction. Unlike neurotoxic insecticides, JHAs do not act immediately; instead, they kill insects by preventing successful metamorphosis, often by disrupting the final molting process and thereby blocking adult emergence\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In addition, JHAs have been shown to reduce ovary size and inhibit egg laying in queens\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. JHAs offer several advantages, including low toxicity to off-target organisms, minimal environmental persistence, and a safer ecotoxicological profile, particularly in aquatic systems\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR27\" citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene and pyriproxyfen have been incorporated into commercial ant bait products\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. JHA baits have proven effective against several invasive pest ant species within the subfamily Myrmicinae, including \u003cem\u003eSolenopsis invicta\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWasmania auropunctata\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, and several \u003cem\u003eMonomorium\u003c/em\u003e species\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In \u003cem\u003eMonomorium pharaonis\u003c/em\u003e, a single application of a pyriproxyfen-containing bait resulted in reduced egg production, arrested egg development, nymph mortality, and queen mortality in laboratory colonies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In laboratory observations of \u003cem\u003eS. invicta\u003c/em\u003e, methoprene bait treatment reduced pupal abundance (due to worker cannibalism), suppressed egg production, and increased the proportion of the female reproductives\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, the efficacy of JHA appears to vary widely across different ant taxa.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJHA-containing baits have shown limited efficacy for ant species within the subfamily Formicinae\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. For example, field applications of a pyriproxyfen-containing bait (Distance plus ant bait, 5kg/ha) initially reduced \u003cem\u003eAnoplolepis gracilipes\u003c/em\u003e populations by 31% within 90 days\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, after 90 days the population began to recover and subsequent applications failed to provide significant long-term effects. Similarly, 0.5% methoprene-baited (Engage ++ [Sumitomo]) laboratory assays revealed a 39% reduction in egg laying among reproductive \u003cem\u003eA. gracilipes\u003c/em\u003e compared to untreated controls\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, no difference in ovary size was detected between control and treatment. Similarly, field baiting trials (1% methoprene) targeting \u003cem\u003eCamponotus pennsylvanicus\u003c/em\u003e were largely ineffective, only yielding a 20% reduction in population size after two years of continuous baiting\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBesides subfamilies Myrmicinae and Formicinae, information on the effects of JHAs is largely unavailable for other subfamilies, with the exception of a single published study on the Argentine ant (subfamily Dolichoderinae). Greenberg et al. (2013) tested a commercial liquid bait containing 0.25% methoprene (Tango\u0026trade;, Wellmark International, Schaumburg, IL) to control field populations of Argentine ants in Southern California citrus groves\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In their study, bait stations were installed and maintained in the field for 116 days. After eight weeks post initial treatment, foraging activity in the treated plots was significantly lower than the untreated control plots. For reasons unexplored by the authors, post-treatment assessments of the field-collected colony fragments revealed that queen numbers in the treated plots were 93% lower than those in the control plots. In subsequent laboratory experiments, methoprene-baited (continuous baiting) colonies showed higher worker mortality than the control colonies at weeks 9, 12, and 16.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGreenberg et al. (2013) did not investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the observed worker mortality. Even though methoprene has generally been studied for its effects on immature insect stages, several reports indicate that it can also negatively impact adult insect survivorship. In a fruit fly \u003cem\u003eAnastrepha ludens\u003c/em\u003e, dietary methoprene significantly reduced adult survival in both sexes, with females being more strongly affected; methoprene-treated flies lived approximately 20% shorter than control flies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Methoprene treated \u003cem\u003eA. ludens\u003c/em\u003e also exhibited increased vulnerability to starvation and dehydration\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti\u003c/em\u003e mosquitoes, topical methoprene exposure reduced female longevity, while male survivorship was less affected\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the social wasp \u003cem\u003ePolybia occidentalis\u003c/em\u003e, topical methoprene applications had dose-dependent effects on worker survivorship, causing 100% mortality within 24 hours for doses greater than 25 \u0026micro;g per insect\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In ants, worker mortality following methoprene baiting has been reported for \u003cem\u003eS. invicta\u003c/em\u003e (8 weeks)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, \u003cem\u003eW. auropunctata\u003c/em\u003e (13 weeks)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eMyrmicaria eumenoides\u003c/em\u003e (4\u0026ndash;6 weeks)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The potential mechanism of adult mortality after methoprene treatment was not examined in any of these studies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe observed mortality of adult insects following methoprene treatment might be related to disruptions in lipid metabolism. Lipids, particularly fatty acids stored as triglycerides, serve as a primary source of energy and metabolic water in insects\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Fatty acids also serve as precursors for key physiological compounds such as pheromones and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), which are essential for communication and protection against abiotic stress such as desiccation and pathogens\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Importantly, JH has been shown to influence lipid metabolism by suppressing lipid synthesis in the fat body\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, potentially altering the availability of fatty acid\u0026ndash;derived compounds such as CHCs. For example, topical methoprene application to adult female \u003cem\u003eGryllus firmus\u003c/em\u003e suppressed fatty acid synthesis\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, the ovaries of methoprene-treated \u003cem\u003eG. firmus\u003c/em\u003e females were 150\u0026ndash;400% heavier, while fat bodies were 50% lighter compared to control suggesting a methoprene-induced shift in energy allocation from lipid storage toward reproductive investment. Beyond its effects on lipid metabolism and energy allocation, methoprene has also been shown to alter CHC profiles in some social insects\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In \u003cem\u003eVespula vulgaris\u003c/em\u003e, topical methoprene application induced workers to develop CHC profiles more similar to those of conspecific queens\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Similarly, in \u003cem\u003eP. occidentalis\u003c/em\u003e, topical methoprene treatment changed the proportion of specific CHCs associated with distinct behavioral roles\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Alterations in CHC profiles may stem from disruptions to lipid metabolism, as CHCs are a class of lipids synthesized from fatty acid precursors\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the present study, we investigated the effects of methoprene vapor on CHC profiles in the Argentine ant. Cuticular hydrocarbons were selected as focal traits due to their critical roles in social communication and protection against environmental stressors (e.g., desiccation), as well as their value as a proxy for lipid metabolism\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Because CHCs vary in both structural features and functional roles, we further grouped hydrocarbons by class (e.g., \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes, alkenes) and chain length to determine whether methoprene exposure differentially affected distinct biosynthetic or functional subsets\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To avoid technical challenges associated with delivering methoprene in a carbohydrate-based aqueous bait (e.g., solubility or feeding deterrence issue)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, we developed an experimental nest designed to expose entire colony fractions to vapor-phase methoprene (2.36 \u0026times; 10⁻⁴ mm Hg at 25\u0026deg;C) within a semi-sealed environment. The use of technical-grade (S)-methoprene also eliminated potential confounding effects from unknown ingredients present in commercial bait formulations\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. After 21 days, CHCs were extracted and analyzed to assess the effects of methoprene vapor exposure on the CHC profiles of adult workers and queens.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eColony collection and maintenance\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eColonies of \u003cem\u003eL. humile\u003c/em\u003e were collected from two geographically distant (2.33km) citrus orchards (hereafter, sites A and B) on the University of California, Riverside campus. The first collection occurred in July \u0026ndash; August 2022 (site A) and the second in February \u0026ndash; March 2023 (site B). During these periods, two and four separate collections were conducted in site A and B, respectively (hereafter, version). Colony fragments were collected by transferring excavated ant nests to the laboratory using large (19-L) plastic buckets. The nest contents were placed inside large plastic containers (1.0 \u0026times; 1.0 \u0026times; 0.5 m) with Fluon-coated (PTFE-30, DISP30, BioQuip Products, Inc., Compton, CA) inner walls to prevent escape. As the soil dried over the subsequent five days, ants relocated into moist paster disks and wet pieces of paper towel positioned above the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The relocated ants were then carefully shaken off the plaster disks and paper towels into a plastic container (26.5 x 30 x 10 cm) with the inner walls coated with Fluon.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe field collected ants were maintained in the laboratory under a 12:12 h light-dark cycle at 22\u0026ndash;23\u0026deg;C and 40\u0026ndash;60% RH and served as the stock colony. The stock colony was equipped with 3\u0026ndash;4 artificial nests constructed from plaster filled plastic cups (163 mL; 6 x 6.5 cm). To maintain adequate moisture, a dental cotton wick (8 cm) (Absorbal, Wheat Ridge, CO) was embedded in the plaster with the exposed end placed inside a weigh boat (50 mL) containing water\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Plastic cups (473 mL; 8 by 11 cm) containing moistened pieces of paper towel were also provided as a nesting location. The ants were fed ad libitum with 25% (wt/vol) sucrose water, canned tuna and, or powdered egg (Judee\u0026rsquo;s, Plain City, OH). The stock colony ants were used for experiments within 10 days of collection.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVapor exposure nests\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVapor exposure nests were designed to exposure Argentine ants to methoprene vapor (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Each vapor exposure nest was created by making a 5-mm hole in the center of a Petri dish lid (50 x 9 mm, Pell Gelman, Aston, PA) and attaching the inverted cap of a 2-mL screw cap glass vial (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA) over the hole using hot glue (AdTech Adhesive technologies, Hampton, NH). The rubber septum of the screw cap was replaced with a circular piece of brass wire cloth (Jelliff, Southport, CT) to prevent ants from accessing the vial\u0026rsquo;s contents. Methoprene was applied inside the glass vial (see Experimental setup), allowing methoprene vapor to diffuse into the petri dish. A 1\u0026ndash;2 mm hole was made in the petri dish lid 1.5 cm away from the center and a small piece of cotton was pressed between the hole and a centrifuge cap glued to the bottom of the petri dish. This internally plugged hole on the lid allowed the sucrose solution and water to be provided from outside without opening the nest or letting ants escape.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExperimental setup\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo prepare ants for methoprene exposure, several artificial nests were removed from the main stock colony box and transferred into a plastic container. Worker ants were then randomly aspirated from the sides of the container, briefly anesthetized with CO₂ (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;30 sec), and immediately transferred to the bottom of the vapor exposure nest. Each nest contained 640\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;28 (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;109) workers and a minimal amount of brood. For ants collected from site A, all replicates contained only worker and brood (no queens) (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;42). For ants collected from site B, some replicates contained only workers and brood (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;28), while others contained workers, brood, and seven queens per colony (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;39). Once the ants recovered from anesthetization (~\u0026thinsp;3 min), the lids were secured and 400 \u0026micro;L of 20% (wt/vol) sucrose was provided through the hole in the lid.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter a 2-day acclimation period, 1 \u0026micro;L (S)-methoprene (Chem Service Inc, West Chester, PA) was applied to a folded strip of filter paper (5 x 0.6 cm) inside the GC vial. The vial was then inverted and screwed into the vial cap on the nest lid (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The fold in the filter paper ensured it remained suspended inside the vial, preventing the methoprene/filter paper from contacting the brass wire cloth in the cap. Control colonies received only clean filter paper strips. Each of the vapor nest received 150 \u0026micro;L of 20% sucrose once per week. To maintain moisture levels within nests, deionized water was added through the same hole as needed (~\u0026thinsp;300 \u0026micro;L per week). Each vapor exposure nest was covered with an inverted plastic cup (162 mL) to slow the desiccation rate and cross-contamination. All vapor exposure nests were maintained in an insectary room maintained at 24\u0026deg;C and16:8 h light-dark cycle.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCuticular hydrocarbon extraction\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe treatment period within the vapor exposure nests continued for 21 days post initial setup. After this time, the nests were opened and the live workers and queens (i.e., individuals capable of walking without obvious impairment) were aspirated and stored inside 1.5-mL centrifuge vials at -20\u0026deg;C until CHC were extracted. Workers and queens were stored separately. For CHC extractions, a pooled group of 30 workers were briefly extracted for 1 min in a 75-mm glass tube (Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ) containing 100 \u0026micro;L hexane with 1 ng/\u0026micro;L \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-eicosane as an internal standard. The tube was gently swirled throughout the extraction. The CHC containing hexane extract was then pipetted out and passed through a glass Pasteur pipette column (7 mm in diameter by 14.6 cm in length; Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ) containing 15\u0026ndash;20 mg silica gel (60 \u0026Aring; pore size, 230\u0026ndash;400 mesh, Whatman, USA) to remove non-hydrocarbon compounds. The same extraction procedure was followed for queens, with a pooled group of five individuals per extraction. The final CHC extracts were analyzed immediately.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eChemical analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor chemical analysis, 1 \u0026micro;L of the purified CHC extract was injected into an Agilent 7890 gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a fused silica capillary column (DB-5, 30 m \u0026times; 0.25 mm inner diameter, Agilent J\u0026amp;W GC columns, Santa Clara, CA) and a flame ionization detector (FID). Helium was used as carrier gas (flow rate 1.8 mL/min). Samples were injected in splitless mode using an automatic liquid sampler, with the following temperature program: 100\u0026deg;C for 1 min, and then 10\u0026deg;C min\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e to 300\u0026deg;C with 30 min hold. Extracts were also analyzed by GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Electron impact mass spectra (70 eV) were obtained using an Agilent 5975C mass selective detector interfaced to an Agilent 7890A gas GC with the column and temperature program previously described.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCompounds were initially identified using GC-MS by matching retention times and reconstructed mass spectra to known standards and reference libraries. When additional confirmation was needed, Kov\u0026aacute;ts retention indices were calculated and used alongside mass spectral data to support compound identification. All samples were subsequently analyzed using GC-FID for quantification under identical chromatographic conditions. Compound identities in FID chromatograms were inferred based on the retention times of compounds previously identified by GC-MS.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSemi-quantitative analysis of CHCs were performed by normalizing peak areas to a known quantity of internal standard (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-eicosane), which was pre-dissolved in the hexane used for all extractions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To obtain per-ant values, normalized peak areas were divided by the number of individuals in each extraction. Peak area integrations were performed using MSD ChemStation (ver @.02.02.1431, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, California, USA) with a minimum peak area of 700, start threshold of 0.001 and stop threshold of 0.01.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause ants from site A and B were collected at different locations during different seasons, they were treated as separate groups. As such, statistical analyses were performed independently for each site. Due to logistical constraints, including the need to stagger experimental start dates to avoid all replicates ending on the same day, experiments were conducted in multiple batches (version) introducing a possible batch effect. To account for this, version was included as a fixed effect in all statistical models. To evaluate the effect of methoprene treatment on total CHC quantity, a generalized linear model (GLM) with a gamma error distribution and log link function was used. Model significance was assessed using a likelihood ratio chi-square test. All hypothesis tests were two-sided with α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05. Where multiple comparisons were made (class and chain-length post hoc GLMs), p-values were adjusted by the Holm method. Model fit and distributional assumptions were assessed with DHARMa residual diagnostics; no violations were detected.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNext, CHCs were grouped by class (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane, alkene, monomethyl alkane, dimethyl alkane, and trimethyl alkane) or chain length (C17-C35). A permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e with Euclidean distances (adonis2 function, \u003cem\u003evegan\u003c/em\u003e package)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e was performed to assess methoprene\u0026rsquo;s effect on CHC groups. We used 10,000 permutations and verified exchangeability under the null. Compounds that co-eluted and could not reliably be assigned to a single CHC class or chain length were excluded from those corresponding analyses. However, coeluting compounds were retained in analysis of total CHC. Although the experimental design was not intended to assess the potential effect of queen presence on worker CHC profiles, the influence of queen presence and its potential interaction with methoprene treatment were evaluated statistically. Queen presence, and the interaction term (queen \u0026times; treatment), were included in initial models to test for any confounding effects. The queen presence and interaction term had no significant effect and were therefore excluded from final analyses. Significant PERMANOVA results were followed up by post hoc GLMs to assess the effects of methoprene on individual CHC classes and chain lengths. The same GLM parameters described for total CHC analysis were used. For these models, CHC compounds below the detection threshold were assigned a value of zero. All statistical comparisons were conducted using R version 4.5.0\u003csup\u003e62\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEffects of methoprene on worker cuticular hydrocarbons\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-eight CHCs were identified and included in the analysis for workers (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). To account for potential batch effects, version was retained as a covariate in all statistical models. Methoprene treatment significantly reduced the total CHC quantity in ants from both sites (A and B). In the workers collected from site A, CHC quantity decreased from 302.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;17.0 ng in controls to 261.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.4 ng in methoprene-treated ants (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM per individual; GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(1)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.210, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.049, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;42). In the workers collected from site B, CHC quantity decreased from 361.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;14.7 ng in controls to 307.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;14.1 ng in the treated ants (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM per individual; GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(1)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.419, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;67). Version also had a significant effect on total CHC quantity for both site A and B (site A GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(3)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.203, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.053; site B GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(3)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.758, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.002), indicating detectable variation across collections.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo assess the effects of methoprene exposure on CHCs grouped by class and chain length, PERMANOVAs were performed using grouped CHC composition as a multivariate response variable. For site A, methoprene treatment significantly affected CHC profiles when grouped by class (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,39)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.944, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.021) and chain length (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,39)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.664, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.023). Version also had a significant effect on both class-level (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,39)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.804, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.041) and chain length-level profiles (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,39)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.846, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.022). For site B, similar patterns were observed. Methoprene treatment significantly affected CHC profiles by class (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,62)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6.411, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.007) and chain length (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,62)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6.545, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.008), version again contributed significantly to variation in both models (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(3,62)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.707, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.002 for class; PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(3,62)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.334, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.003 for chain length).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo assess whether the presence of a queen influenced worker CHC profiles in site B, queen presence was initially included as a covariate in the GLM for total CHC analysis and in PERMANOVA models for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. Queen presence had no significant effect on total CHC quantity (GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(1)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.002, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.838, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;67) or on CHCs grouped by either class (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,61)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.114, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.891) or chain length (PERMANOVA: \u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e(1,61)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.527, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.533). In addition, there were no significant interaction effects between queen presence and treatment in any model (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.1 for all cases). Based on these results, queen presence as a factor was excluded as a covariate from subsequent post hoc analyses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePost hoc analysis of worker cuticular hydrocarbons grouped by class and chain length\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo further investigate which CHC groups were most affected by methoprene treatment, post hoc GLMs were performed for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Results are summarized in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e and Table\u0026nbsp;3. For ants from site A, methoprene treatment significantly reduced the quantity of \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes, while other CHC classes were not significantly affected (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ea). When CHCs were grouped by chain length, methoprene treatment resulted significant reduction in the midrange compounds, C25, C26, C27, C28, and C29. In contrast, the CHCs with chain lengths shorter (C17 and C19) or longer (C33, C35, and C37) than this midrange group were not significantly affected (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb). For site B, methoprene significantly reduced quantities of \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes, monomethyl alkanes, and trimethyl alkanes, while alkenes and dimethyl alkanes were not significantly affected (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ec). Similarly to workers from site A, when CHCs were grouped by chain length, significant reductions were observed for the midrange compounds (C26, C27, C28, C29, C31), and C33 (C33 approached significance after \u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.054). However, the CHCs with shorter (C17, C19, and C25) and longer (C35, and C37) chain lengths were not significantly affected (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ed).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eEffects of methoprene on queen cuticular hydrocarbons\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwenty-nine CHCs were identified and included in the analysis for queens (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Methoprene treatment significantly reduced total CHC quantity in queens, from 4,274.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;219.7 ng in controls to 3,632.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;167.9 ng in methoprene-treated queen (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM per individual; GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(1)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.251, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.012, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;39). Version had a significant effect on total CHC quantity (GLM: \u003cem\u003eX\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003csub\u003e(3)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.536, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;39). Methoprene significantly altered CHCs grouped by class (PERMANOVA: F\u003csub\u003e(1,34)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.664, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.026) and chain length (PERMANOVA: F\u003csub\u003e(1,34)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.991, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.022). Version also had a significant effect on CHCs when grouped by class (PERMANOVA: F\u003csub\u003e(1,34)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.659, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.014) and by chain length (PERMANOVA: F\u003csub\u003e(1,34)\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.058, \u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.002).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePost hoc analysis of queen cuticular hydrocarbons grouped by class and chain length\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo further investigate which CHC groups were most affected by methoprene in queens, post hoc GLMs were performed for CHCs grouped by class and chain length. As in previous models, version was included as a covariate. Results are presented in Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. Among CHC classes, a significant reduction was detected only for monomethyl alkanes in methoprene-treated queens (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003ea). Treatment and control CHC profiles were similar in quantities for \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane, dimethyl alkane, and alkene groups. This was in stark contrast to workers, where \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes showed the greatest reduction in the treatment group. When CHCs were grouped by chain length, significant reductions were detected for C25, C26, C29, and C31 (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003eb).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eExposure to vapor phase methoprene significantly altered the CHC profile of adult Argentine ant workers and queens. Methoprene treatment reduced total CHC quantity in both workers and queens by approximately 15%. Further analysis revealed that methoprene differentially affected hydrocarbons based on their class (e.g., \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes, and alkenes) and chain length. In workers, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes showed the greatest reductions, whereas in queens, monomethyl-branched alkanes were most affected. These caste-specific effects may reflect distinct physiological or regulatory roles of JH in workers versus queens.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrevious studies examining methoprene-induced changes to CHC profiles in ants have focused primarily on shifts in relative composition rather than absolute quantity\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Although relative abundance data is useful for comparing CHC composition across individuals or treatments, it does not capture changes in overall CHC production. Because relative data inherently normalize each CHC to the total abundance, large shifts in one or a few compounds can distort the apparent levels of others, potentially misrepresenting their true quantitative changes. The present study is the first to demonstrate methoprene-induced reductions in absolute CHC abundance in ants. This novel finding provides insight into how JHAs such as methoprene may disrupt lipid-based physiological processes. Given the essential roles of CHCs in both desiccation resistance and social regulation, these reductions in absolute CHC abundance may have important downstream physiological and ecological consequences which are discussed in detail below.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the most striking observations in this study was methoprene\u0026rsquo;s impact on \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes in worker ants. After three weeks of vapor exposure, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane quantities decreased by 30% in ants from site A and by 25% in ants from site B when compared to their corresponding controls. Reductions in this functionally important CHC class could have significant physiological consequences, particularly with respect to desiccation resistance. Due to their tight molecular packing, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes create an effective barrier to water\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Considering Argentine ants have relatively high cuticular permeability and susceptibility to desiccation compared to other native ant species in southern California\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e64\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, the water barrier function of \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes might be particularly crucial for their survival in warm and dry environments. The invasive spread and establishment of Argentine ants are strongly influenced by soil moisture and associated vegetation cover\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e65\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA survey of Argentine ant populations across California found that the abundance of \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes and alkenes on their cuticular surface positively correlate with temperature, and negatively correlate with precipitation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These finding support a protective role for these hydrocarbon classes in water retention and suggest the Argentine ants may adaptively regulate CHC synthesis, expression and transport in response to local environmental conditions. Similar patterns have been documented in other ant genera, such as \u003cem\u003eMyrmica\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eTemnothorax\u003c/em\u003e, where workers reared under low-humidity conditions exhibited increased \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane proportions and improved desiccation tolerance\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e66\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e67\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Thus, it is possible that methoprene-induced reductions in \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes may exacerbate the Argentine ant\u0026rsquo;s vulnerability to desiccation, potentially affecting colony survival in warm and dry environments. By compromising CHC-mediated water retention, methoprene exposure might reduce the Argentine ant\u0026rsquo;s capacity to invade and persist in arid environments. This warrants further investigation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe significant reduction in \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes observed in methoprene-treated workers may also impair nestmate recognition in Argentine ants. Although \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes are primarily associated with waterproofing, some studies suggest they can also function in chemical communication, including signaling caste identity in \u003cem\u003ePogonomyrmex barbatus\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e68\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e69\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, mating status in \u003cem\u003eEctatomma tuberculatum\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e70\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, and nestmate recognition in \u003cem\u003eFormica japonica\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e71\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the Argentine ant specifically, prior research indicates that \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes may contribute to nestmate recognition. For example, Greene and Gordon (2007) demonstrated that Argentine ant workers respond aggressively toward cotton swabs impregnated with nestmate CHC extract spiked with \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane standard (C23-C30), whereas neither the CHC extract nor the \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane standard alone elicited aggression\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e72\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This finding suggests a potential role of these medium-chain \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes in nestmate recognition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe observed reduction in monomethyl alkanes in methoprene-treated queens may have important implications for both desiccation resistance and chemical signaling. In contrast to workers, monomethyl alkanes were most affected in queens, exhibiting a 19% reduction in the treatment compared to the control groups. The effect of methoprene treatment on monomethyl alkanes was not consistent in workers (i.e., significant effect was detected only for the ants collected from site B), and their quantity change was less pronounced (13% reduction) when compared to the queen. Monomethyl alkanes differ structurally from \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes by the presence of a single methyl group along the carbon chain. This branching point disrupts molecular packing, slightly lowers melting points, increases volatility relative to \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes, and allows physical flexibility in the wax layer\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e73\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e74\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, because methyl branches can occur at different positions, methyl-branched alkanes are hypothesized to encode more structural information than linear \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkanes\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e75\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e76\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. As a result, monomethyl alkanes are thought to balance waterproofing efficiency with semiochemical function, making them well-suited for roles in both desiccation resistance and chemical signaling\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR77\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e77\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR78\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e78\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the Argentine ant, it is well established that CHCs are involved in nestmate recognition among workers. In contrast, the role of CHCs in queen discrimination is less understood and has primarily been studied in the context of worker responses during queen adoption and annual execution events. In these contexts, CHC profiles appear to influence how workers assess and respond to reproductive females. V\u0026aacute;squez et al. (2009) demonstrated that workers displayed aggression towards both non-nestmate queens and nestmate queens treated with non-nestmate CHC extracts\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR79\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e79\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This aggression was statistically associated with quantitative shifts in monomethyl alkanes between nestmate and non-nestmate queens. This suggests that monomethyl alkanes may be involved in worker discrimination of queens during colony adoption of new queens.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to signaling colony identity, monomethyl alkanes are important in communicating queen\u0026rsquo;s fertility status. Fertility signals are clearly conveyed through CHC profiles in many eusocial insects\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e80\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the Argentine ant, for example, the proportion of monomethyl alkanes increases during the onset of egg laying in queens\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR81\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e81\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Supporting this, Abril et al. (2018) found five CHCs that were significantly associated with Argentine ant queen\u0026rsquo;s egg-laying rates and oocyte development, including the monomethyl alkanes 5-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e and 5-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e82\u003c/sup\u003e. In the present study, methoprene exposure reduced the abundance of 5-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e by 17% (control: 109.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.4 ng; methoprene: 90.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.6 ng) and 5-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e by 22% (control: 802.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;46.6 ng; methoprene: 626.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;37.2 ng). These reductions suggests that methoprene may disrupt the production or regulation fertility-linked CHCs in queens. The remaining compounds identified by Abril et al. (2018) as fertility signals included two dimethyl alkanes (5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e and 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e) and one alkene (C\u003csub\u003e29:1\u003c/sub\u003e). As a result of the temperature program used in the current study, 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e and 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e coeluted with terminally branched monomethyl alkanes (see peaks 14 and 22 in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) and the identity of the 29-carbon alkene (C\u003csub\u003e29:1\u003c/sub\u003e) could not be confirmed. As a result, the impact of methoprene on these hydrocarbons was not determined in the present study. However, based on the analyses with CHCs grouped by class, neither dimethyl alkanes nor alkenes showed significant reductions following methoprene exposure.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, dimethyl-branched CHCs were not significantly reduced by methoprene exposure in queens in the present study. Like monomethyl alkanes, dimethyl alkanes are important for queen signaling and colony-level reproductive regulation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR83\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e83\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In addition to being correlated with egg-laying rates and oocyte development\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR81\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e81\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR83\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e83\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, certain dimethyl alkanes, particularly 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e and 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e, have been linked to the queen killing by workers\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR84\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e84\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In this annual \u0026ldquo;queen execution\u0026rdquo; process, workers kill up to 90% of the colony\u0026rsquo;s queens\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR85\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e85\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This process is thought to reduce the inhibitory effects of queen pheromone on gyne production\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR83\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e83\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In their study, surviving queens possessed significantly higher levels of 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e and 5,11-diMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e compared to executed queens, suggesting that workers may use dimethyl alkanes to identify and eliminate less fecund individuals. Given their critical role in mediating queen fate, dimethyl alkanes may be under stricter physiological or endocrine regulation than monomethyl alkanes, potentially explaining their apparent stability under methoprene treatment. While these specific compounds were not directly quantified in the present study, their inferred functional importance may make them less susceptible to hormonal perturbation\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo evaluate whether methoprene affected CHCs differently based on chain length, compounds were grouped accordingly and analyzed. In workers from population A, methoprene significantly reduced CHCs with chain lengths C25\u0026ndash;C29, while in workers from population B, significant reductions were observed in CHCs ranging from C26\u0026ndash;C33. Shorter chain compounds (C17, C19) and very long chain compounds (C37) remained unaffected in both worker groups (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ed). In queens, a similar but more selective pattern was observed. Similar to workers, the longest chain hydrocarbons (C32\u0026ndash;C35) were unaffected. However, methoprene selectively reduced a non-contiguous subset of medium-to-long chain CHCs (C25, C26, C29, C31), while adjacent chain lengths (C27, C28, C30) remained unchanged. These results might indicate that methoprene affects CHC expression in a chain length\u0026ndash;dependent manner, but with caste-specific patterns. However, because each chain length group included various chemical classes these interpretations should be considered provisional.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong-chain CHCs are hypothesized to play a key role in nestmate recognition in Argentine ant workers. This idea was first proposed after workers that had fed on the cockroach \u003cem\u003eSupella longipalpa\u003c/em\u003e were attacked by their nestmates. Subsequent analysis revealed that \u003cem\u003eS. longipalpa\u003c/em\u003e possesses long-chain hydrocarbons (C35 and C37), which were transferred to the ants during feeding and triggered aggressive responses\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR86\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e86\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR87\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e87\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the current study, methoprene had no significant impact on CHCs in this chain length range. Long-chain CHCs are also energetically costly to synthesize and are produced via elongation of shorter-chain precursors through conserved fatty acid biosynthetic pathways\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. It is therefore possible that the three-week treatment period was insufficient to detect reductions in these compounds. Alternatively, these recognition-relevant CHCs may be under stricter physiological or endocrinological regulation, as alterations to them could carry significant social costs, such as impaired nestmate discrimination or increased intra-colony aggression. Further studies are needed to determine whether longer exposure or caste-specific regulatory mechanisms influence long-chain CHC stability under hormonal disruption.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe chain-length specificity from methoprene exposure may reflect underlying disruption to CHC biosynthesis, a process highly conserved across insects and tightly linked to fatty acid metabolism\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. CHCs are derived from fatty acid precursors through a series of enzymatic steps, including elongation, desaturation, reduction, and oxidative decarbonylation, primarily occurring in oenocytes\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Among the enzymes involved, elongases play a key role in determining CHC chain length by catalyzing the stepwise addition of two-carbon units to fatty acid precursors\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR88\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e88\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Importantly, JH has been shown to influence the activity of elongases and other biosynthetic enzymes critical for the production of long-chain alkanes\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In \u003cem\u003eDrosophila melanogaster\u003c/em\u003e, allatectomized flies (lacking JH) had lower levels of long chain \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane (C23\u0026ndash;C29) and increase levels of shorter chain dienes (C23, C25)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR89\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e89\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Topical application of methoprene partially reversed this pattern by specifically increasing the abundance of longer chain CHCs. Similar hormone-mediated regulation of elongase activity may underlie the chain-length\u0026ndash;specific CHC reductions observed in Argentine ant queens and workers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe present study advances our understanding of methoprene\u0026rsquo;s physiological effects in adult Argentine ants. Methoprene exposure significantly reduced the absolute quantity of CHCs in both worker ants and queens. Notably, this is the first study to report overall quantitative reductions in CHCs following methoprene treatment, whereas previous research has primarily focused on relative compositional changes. The specific CHC classes and chain lengths affected differed between castes, suggesting that JH may play distinct physiological roles in each caste. This pattern is well supported in highly eusocial Hymenoptera, where JH often mediates caste-specific functions and reproductive division of labor\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR90\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e90\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Given the ecological importance of CHCs in desiccation resistance, nestmate recognition, and reproductive signaling, such disruptions could have colony-level consequences. Future work should investigate the molecular pathways affected by methoprene, as well as potential behavioral and reproductive outcomes in treated colonies. Additional research is also needed to determine whether methoprene impacts other lipid-based compounds, such as fatty acids that serve as CHC precursors.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eWethank Jocelyn Millar for generously offering his time and expertise in hydrocarbon identification. Sydney Mun was instrumental in the construction of the vapor nests and Andrew Staviski and Jair Mendez for insect collections and maintenance. We also thank Kathleen Campbell for purchasing all materials. We sincerely thank Matt Daugherty and Benjamin (Jeff) Ellis for generously sharing their statistical expertise. We thank the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, for supporting this research. The funding agencies do not necessarily recommend or endorse any opinion, commercial product, or trade name used in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding Declaration:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe project was funded in part by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (grant agreement number: 18-PML-R001) and the intramural research program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project accession number: 7003981).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions:\u003c/strong\u003e T.M. and DH.C. conceived the study. T.M. designed the study. T.M. carried out the experiments, performed the chemical analyses, and analyzed the data. T.M. wrote the manuscript. DH.C. supervised the research and provided editorial feedback. Both authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests:\u003c/strong\u003e T.M. and DH.C. declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability:\u003c/strong\u003e The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Declarations:\u003c/strong\u003e This study did not involve human participants or vertebrate animals.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLowe, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S. \u0026amp; De Poorter, M. \u003cem\u003e100 of the world\u0026rsquo;s worst invasive alien species: a selection from the global invasive species database. in (The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) a specialist group of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the\u003c/em\u003e (World Conservation Union (IUCN), 2000).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuellesbach, J. et al. 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Sci.\u003c/em\u003e 283, 20152409 (2016).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBilen, J., Atallah, J., Azanchi, R., Levine, J. D. \u0026amp; Riddiford, L. M. Regulation of onset of female mating and sex pheromone production by juvenile hormone in Drosophila melanogaster. \u003cem\u003eProc. Natl. Acad. Sci.\u003c/em\u003e 110, 18321\u0026ndash;18326 (2013).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHartfelder, K. Insect juvenile hormone: from \u0026lsquo;status quo\u0026rsquo; to high society. \u003cem\u003eBraz J. Med. Biol. Res.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e33\u003c/b\u003e, 157\u0026ndash;177 (2000).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIdentification of CHCs in worker ants used for analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeak number\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eName\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClass\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e17\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e17\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eXC\u003csub\u003e19:1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e19\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003csup\u003eb\u003cem\u003ec\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; Unknown\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane/Unk\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11-,13-,15-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,11-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl/dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7,11,15-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003csup\u003eb\u003cem\u003ec\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 3,11/15-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane/monomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; C\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e -alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 13,15-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl/dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,13/17DiMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 9,13,17-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl/dimethyl/trimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7,11,13/15-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003csup\u003eb\u003cem\u003ec\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 3,11/13-DiMeC31 \u0026amp; 5,13,17-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane/dimethyl/trimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; C\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-,17-MeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,13/15/17-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7,11,13/15-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,13,15-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-,17-MeC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,13/15DiMeC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 9,13,17-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl/trimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5,13,15/17-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-MeC\u003csub\u003e37\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e37\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e20\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e20\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003eCompounds are ordered by their retention time. See the chromatogram with corresponding number in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003eCoeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by class\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003eCoeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by chain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in worker ants from site A and B (grouped by class).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"19\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c16\" colnum=\"16\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c17\" colnum=\"17\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c18\" colnum=\"18\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c19\" colnum=\"19\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSite A\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c19\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSite B\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c19\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e53.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.273\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.560\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.417\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.617\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.071\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.324\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.809\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.219\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.082\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.321\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.025\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.042\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.400\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.046\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.425\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.707\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.289\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.331\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.427\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.079\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003etrimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.593\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.741\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.293\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e118.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e103.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.297\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.045\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.928\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ealkene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.269\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.478\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.067\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.067\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.213\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"No\" id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"19\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c16\" colnum=\"16\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c17\" colnum=\"17\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c18\" colnum=\"18\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c19\" colnum=\"19\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSite A\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c19\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSite B\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c19\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eP-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresid\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e17\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.182\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.610\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.838\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.489\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0254\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.033\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.584\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.5843\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.823\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e19\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.300\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.0363\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.478\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.067\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.092\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.213\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.665\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.539\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.1695\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.381\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.244\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.268\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.538\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.556\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.621\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.\u003cb\u003e001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.902\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.838\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.003\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.920\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.144\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.471\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.\u003cb\u003e001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.524\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.879\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.355\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.334\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.\u003cb\u003e001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.029\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.442\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.556\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.\u003cb\u003e001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.350\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.066\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.\u003cb\u003e001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.071\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.266\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.081\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.103\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.142\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.141\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.259\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.254\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.049\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.479\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.009\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.234\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.260\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e78.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.660\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.806\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.327\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e130.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e114.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.310\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.925\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.027\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.538\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.846\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.247\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.063\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e87.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.254\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.053\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.084\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.912\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e37\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.763\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.840\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.180\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.105\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.181\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.116\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.142\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.103\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable 4. Identification of CHCs in queens used for analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"No\" id=\"Tabb\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeak number\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eName\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClass\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,11-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emono/dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4-MeC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eXC\u003csub\u003e29:1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ealkene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u0026ndash;10/16-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11-,13-,15-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,11-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emono/dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,9-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4-MeC\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eXC\u003csub\u003e31:1\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ealkene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eXC\u003csub\u003e31:1\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 4,12/14-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ealkene \u0026amp; dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; C\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3-MeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,11/15-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emono/dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 3,13/15-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane \u0026amp; dimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; C\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,7-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,14/16-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e32\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-,17-MeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-MeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5-,11/17-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e34\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 3,x-DiMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e \u0026amp; 5,11/13,15-TriMeC\u003csub\u003e33\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en-\u003c/em\u003ealkane/di/trimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e33 \u0026amp;\u003c/sub\u003e C\u003csub\u003e34\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13-,15-,17-MeC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e35\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-C\u003csub\u003e20\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e20\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003eCompounds are ordered by their retention time. See the chromatogram with corresponding number in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003eCoeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by class\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003eCoeluting compounds not used in analysis for CHCs grouped by chain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in queens (grouped by class)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClass\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/ residual\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/ residual\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e-alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,248.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;97.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,041.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;49.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.310\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.063\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.126\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.300\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.341\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emonomethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,743.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;92.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,419.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;76.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.403\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.014\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.572\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.007\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edimethyl alkane\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e386.1.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;16.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e364.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.023\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.264\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.264\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.028\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ealkene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.9.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.122\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.198\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.264\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.603\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffects of methoprene vapor on the quantities of CHCs in queens (grouped by chain length).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChain length\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuantity of CHCs (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SEM; ng/ant)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVersion\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eControl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMethoprene\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/ residual\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epadj\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf/ residual\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e25\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.228\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.002\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.781\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e26\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.721\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.046\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.222\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e27\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e588.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;47.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e482.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;32.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.375\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.039\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.065\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.163\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e28\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e132.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e126.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.3103\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.345\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.161\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e29\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,583.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;98.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,289.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;62.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.354\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.008\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.041\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.534\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e30\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e84.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.215\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.075\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.107\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3/34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.354\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.157\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003csub\u003e31\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,030.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;52.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e883.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;47.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1/37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.248\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" 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colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.0001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Linepithema humile, gas-chromatography, invasive species, desiccation resistance, n-alkane, chemical ecology, juvenile hormone analogue","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7429450/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7429450/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe Argentine ant, \u003cem\u003eLinepithema humile\u003c/em\u003e (Mayr), is one of the world\u0026rsquo;s most damaging invasive species that belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae. Current control strategies for \u003cem\u003eL. humile\u003c/em\u003e are reliant on neurotoxic insecticides; however, their use is increasingly limited due to their environmental impacts and subsequent regulatory restrictions. Juvenile hormone analogs, such as methoprene, may offer a possible alternative solution to this problem due to their low toxicity to non-target organisms and more favorable environmental profiles. While some JHAs have been tested against several myrmicine ants, their effects on other subfamilies, such as Dolichoderinae, remain understudied. Only one peer-reviewed publication exists evaluating methoprene's effect on Argentine ant colonies in the laboratory, reporting increased mortality in adult workers. However, the study did not explore potential physiological mechanisms underlying this observation. Research findings from other insect taxa suggest that juvenile hormone and their synthetic analogues may disrupt adult physiology by altering lipid metabolism and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, key traits involved in desiccation resistance and chemical communication. The current study investigated the effects of methoprene on the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in \u003cem\u003eL. humile\u003c/em\u003e. To administer methoprene in a controlled manner, small colony fractions housed in sealed enclosures were exposed continuously to methoprene vapor for 21 days. Cuticular hydrocarbons were then extracted from adult workers and queens and quantified using gas chromatography. Methoprene exposure significantly reduced the total cuticular hydrocarbon quantity in both castes, suggesting disruption to lipid metabolic processes linked to cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis. These findings may provide a foundation to further explore the physiological impacts of methoprene and other juvenile hormone analogues on Argentine ants and other pestiferous dolichoderine ants.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-18 15:01:15","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7429450/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-12-04T15:25:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-27T23:00:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-18T13:43:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"215944834369021279284271548728550214338","date":"2025-11-10T00:25:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"149838141488109885742619189966713787820","date":"2025-11-07T20:33:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-11-07T13:24:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-10-24T13:27:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-25T12:18:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-08-25T08:29:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-08-21T22:46:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"cda7431f-001c-4154-8240-6136c656fcca","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 18th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":58117309,"name":"Biological sciences/Ecology"},{"id":58117310,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology"},{"id":58117311,"name":"Biological sciences/Zoology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-30T16:23:49+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7429450","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44089-0","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2026-03-28 16:13:25","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 28th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-18 15:01:15","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-026-44089-0","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44089-0","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7429450","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7429450","identity":"rs-7429450","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}