Cuticular Hydrocarbons in Insects: A review on Molecular Architecture, Physiological Roles, and Evolutionary Significance

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) form the dominant lipid coating of insect exoskeletons, serving as the interface between physiology, communication, and environmental adaptation. Originally regarded as waterproofing waxes, CHCs are now recognised as multifunctional molecules linking metabolism, behaviour, and evolution. This review synthesises advances in molecular biosynthesis, physiological roles, and adaptive diversification of CHCs across insect taxa. Recent genomic, transcriptomic, and ecological studies reveal that elongases, desaturases, and cytochrome P450 decarbonylases form an integrated network generating taxon-specific hydrocarbon blends that underpin both survival and social organisation. We discuss CHC diversification as an adaptive continuum—a trajectory from structural protection to complex chemical signalling—and highlight emerging research that connects hydrocarbon biology to environmental stress responses, pest management, and biomimetic innovation. Finally, we identify key gaps in understanding CHC gene regulation, neural perception, and ecological plasticity, proposing a predictive framework for linking genotype, phenotype, and ecological context in insect chemical ecology.

Cuticular hydrocarbons, oenocytes, lipid metabolism

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