2-Methylhexacosane is a saturated hydrocarbon and an insect pheromone.^1,2It has been found in the cuticle ofM. dasystomusfemales, but not males, where it contributes to the mating behavior of males, as well as inD. melanogasterfemales where it modulates aggression of males towards females. 2-methylhexacosane has also been found in yellow jacket (V. vulgaris) trail extracts.³

1.Spikes, A.E., Pashen, M.A., Millar, J.G., et al.First contact pheromone identified for a longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the subfamily PrioninaeJ. Chem. Ecol.36(9)943-954(2010) 2.FernÁndez, d.l.P., Chan, Y.-B., Yew, J.Y., et al.Pheromonal and behavioral cues trigger male-to-female aggression in DrosophilaPLoS Biol.8(11)e1000541(2010) 3.Steinmetz, I., Schmolz, E., and Ruther, J.Cuticular lipids as trail pheromone in a social waspProc. Biol. Sci.270(1513)385-391(2003)