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Epicuticular hydrocarbons from the Siberian population of Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) formed eight isomeric homologous series of' mono-, di-, and trimethyl-branched alkanes with C26–C37 main-chain lengths. The major group of isomeric homologous series comprised terminally branched hydrocarbons with branching at the 2-position that were synthesized from valine (51% of the cuticular lipids). A second direction was the synthesis of internally branched alkanes with an acetyl-CoA primer (18%). Isomeric homologous series of hydrocarbons synthesized from propionyl-CoA accounted for 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]