Attractiveness of p-anisaldehyde to the varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci (L.) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Abstract

p-Anisaldehyde, a common flower volatile component, was found to be a potent attractant to adults of the varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, irrespective of sex. The male catch with p-anisaldehyde (1 g) was almost the same as that with the female sex pheromone (1 mg), but the female catch was significantly larger. The catch with the combined attractant (p-anisaldehyde+the sex pheromone) was almost the same as the sum of the catches with each single attractant. Among 22 related compounds, two positional isomers and 20 functional-group-substituted compounds, p-anisaldehyde dimethylacetal, p-methoxyphenylacetone and p-ethoxybenzaldehyde were almost as attractive as p-anisaldehyde.