Study sheds light on chemicals that insects use to communicate and survive

Most insects are covered with a thin layer of hydrocarbon molecules as a waterproofing barrier. Embedded in this layer are compounds the insects use as chemical signals for a wide variety of functions such as communicating species and sex. But isolating these chemicals and determining their absolute configuration and functions has been a challenge. Now a team of scientists has devised a straightforward method for purifying these compounds.

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