Quantification of sex pheromone from Anocentor nitens by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring

Two highly sensitive and selective methods based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode have been developed for the quantification of 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP), a sex pheromone of the tick females of Anocentor nitens. Standard addition method and calibration curve techniques using 5-bromine-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (5-BrV) as internal standard (IS) afforded detection limit of 0.1 ng ml⁻¹. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range from 0.5 to 500 ng ml⁻¹ for 2,6-DCP. Results show that the concentration range of sex pheromone in the extracts samples was 1.08-10.35 ng ml⁻¹. The methods developed provided reliable procedures to determine amounts of 2,6-DCP present in ticks.