Gyrinal Explained

Gyrinal is an organic chemical compound  - an unsaturated ketoaldehyde - with the formula C₁₄H₁₈O₃, obtained from the whirligig beetle (the water boatman, Gyrinus natator). It is a powerful antiseptic and fish and mammal toxin, and thus used as a defensive compound. Typically the beetles contain approx. 80 microgram of the compound. The LD₅₀ of the compound is approx. 45 mg/kg in mice.

References

• Schildknecht, H. . Chemical Ecology - A Chapter of Modern Natural Products Chemistry . . 15 . 214–222. 1976 . 10.1002/anie.197602141 . 4.
• Miller, J. R., Hendry, L. B., and Mumma, R. O. . Norsesquiterpenes as defensive toxins of whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) . Journal of Chemical Ecology . 1 . 1 . 59–82. 1975 . 10.1007/BF00987720. 1975JCEco...1...59M . 32820323 .