Abstract
Adult Sehirus cinctus cinctus emit a volatile secretion from their metathoracic scent glands when tactually stimulated. We identified the volatile components by gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The secretion of both sexes contained (1R)-(+)-α-pinene, (1S)-(–)-β-pinene, β-myrcene, (R)-(+)-limonene, and α-terpinolene. Two additional compounds were found in only female secretions: (E)-2-hexenyl acetate and (E)-2-octenal. We also tested the defensive capability of this insect by offering it to various predators. Anoles, starlings, and a killdeer rejected S. c. cinctus after an initial sampling. These findings suggest that the secretion plays a defensive role.
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Krall, B.S., Zilkowski, B.W., Kight, S.L. et al. Chemistry and Defensive Efficacy of Secretion of Burrowing Bug (Sehirus cinctus cinctus). J Chem Ecol 23, 1951–1962 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006482.12576.90
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006482.12576.90