Chemical composition of ground pearl (Eurhizococcus colombianus) cysts.

Ground pearl (Eurhizococcus colombianus) is a crop pest in Colombia, with special impact on fig, grass, rubus and tomato plants. The insect is resistant to external insecticide application because it produces a thick waxy shell that isolates it from the environment. The composition of this shell was determined by NMR and MS as a triglyceride, whose fatty acid is transformed into other products with the metamorphosis of the insect. Additionally, several enzymatic inhibitors were assayed to control the insect with negative results.