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.