Behavioural evidence of methyl-2,6,10-trimethyltridecanoate as a sex pheromone of Euschistus heros (Het., Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Males of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, were attractive to conspecific females in bioassays. A synthetic stereoisomeric mixture of methyl-2,6,10-trimethyltridecanoate, previously identified and presumed as the male-produced pheromone, was confirmed to attract females. A 24 h bioassay showed the presence of a diel periodicity, where the females respond to males from noon to midnight. A still-air olfactometer assembled from commercially available food containers was used to test the attractants from E. heros.