EXOCRINE SECRETIONS OF SCENTLESS PLANT BUGS - JADERA, BOISEA AND NIESTHREA SPECIES (HEMIPTERA, HETEROPTERA, RHOPALIDAE)

The so-called scentless plant bugs are actually exceptionally redolent insects. Twenty-two volatile exocrine compounds were identified from eight rhopalid species, including monoterpene hydrocarbons and alcohols, alkenals and ketoalkenals, 2-phenylethanol and (4S,5S)-(+)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolide. The lack of species-specificity for the exocrine blends from eastern and western boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittatus and B. rubrolineatus, respectively) cast doubt on their validity as separate species. The biological roles for the array of exocrines released by rhopalids are largely unknown, but potentially important because boxelder bugs are an increasing urban nuisance and species such as Niesthrea Iouisianica may be useful weed control agents. © 1990.