Heneicosane is the organic compound with the formula CH3(CH2)19CH3. It is the straight chain, saturated C21 hydrocarbon. It is a white wax.
Natural occurrence
Heneicosane is used as a pheromone by the queen or king termites in the species Reticulitermes flavipes.[1] It also attracts mosquitoes in the genus Aedes and can be used in mosquito baits.[2] This works in nature as the hydrocarbon is produced in the skin of the larva. A 1:100000 fraction in water is the most attractive, but if the concentration is 1:1000 then mosquitoes are repelled instead.[3] Heneicosane is one of the major components of the safflower flower essential oil (Carthamus tinctorius).[4] All parts of the plant Periploca laevigata contain heneicosane.[5]Rosa damascena flower essential oil contains 5% heneicosane.[6]Sambucus nigra contains 2.3%.