The scarab beetleAnomala cuprea utilizes the sex pheromone ofPopillia japonica as a minor component

Abstract

GC-EAD analyses revealed that the scarab beetleAnomala cuprea, the cupreous chafer, utilizes, in addition to the previously identified major sex pheromone (R,Z)-5-(-)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one, a minor component, (R,Z)-5-(-)-(dec-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one, which has been previously identified as the sex pheromone of the Japanese beetle. Release of the sex pheromone blend did not significantly differ when collected from feeding or starving female beetles, nor did it differ from volatiles collected in the scoto- and photophase. However, after mating, the amount and the ratio of the two components changed. Field tests revealed that traps baited with the synthetic sex pheromone captured more beetles than traps containing only virgin females. Based on field experiments, 10 mg of a 90∶10 blend of the pheromone was suggested as appropriate for monitoring of the cupreous chafer, although the optimal ratio for attractiveness is yet to be established. The occurrence of minor components in the pheromone system of other scarab beetles is also discussed.