Five compounds known to be pheromone components of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the subfamily Cerambycinae were fi eld-tested as attractants and possible pheromones for the cerambycid fauna of Hungary. Nine cerambycid species were caught in baited traps. Large numbers of both sexes of the cerambycine species Molorchus umbellatarum Schreb. were caught in traps baited with (2R*,3S*)-octanediol, while the diastereomeric (2R*,3R*)-octanediol was to some extent attractive as well. This is the fi rst report on an aggregation attractant and a likely pheromone for a species in the cerambycine tribe Molorchini. The results of our study support the hypothesis that the diol/hydroxyketone pheromone motif is characteristic of and highly conserved within the subfamily Cerambycinae. Intraspecifi c chemical communication is summarized for the subfamily Cerambycinae, and possible links between taxonomy, insect behaviour, and pheromone structures are described

There is an urgent need in Europe to prepare resources for the arrival of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Buprestidae, Coleoptera) from European Russia, and possibly other invasive jewel beetles. A lightweight, easy to handle, non‐sticky trap could facilitate monitoring and detection to derive information about emerald ash borer and other jewel beetle populations. In two experiments carried out over two consecutive years in an oak forest, a new non‐sticky multi‐funnel trap design with a light‐green (sometimes described as fluorescent yellow) visual cue was developed. Altogether, there were 238 (2018) and 194 (2019) specimens captured often (2018) and eight (2019) Agrilus species, eight of which are oak‐related and one (A. convexicollis) was linked to ash. The new light‐green multi‐funnel trap performed similarly to the sticky design with a similar coloured surface. Our results suggest that the new trap design may be suitable for catching a wide range of buprestid species. It may also have the potential to be further optimized with respect to visual and olfactory cues, which would provide an even more useful tool for monitoring both invasive and indigenous buprestids.

(1) Background: The principal aim of our work was to identify pheromone components for Plagionotus detritus (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), which could be exploited for developing a pheromone-based monitoring system for the complementary purposes of plant protection in areas where it might become a pest, and natural conservation in areas where it is rare or endangered. (2) Methods: Collection and analysis of headspace volatiles were carried out with field-collected beetles. Bioactive volatile compounds identified [(R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and (S)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one] from extracts of males were purchased [(±)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one], and synthesized [(S)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one] and field-tested. Electroantennogram assays showed that antennae of the predatory beetle Clerus mutillarius F. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) also responded to the synthetic compounds. (3) Results: A two-component aggregation-sex pheromone consisting of (R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and (S)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one was identified for P. detritus. (±)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and (S)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one attracted adults of P. detritus in field bioassays. Adults of the clerid C. mutillarius also were attracted to both compounds. The cerambycid Xylotrechus antilope Schönh was significantly attracted to traps baited with (S)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one alone or the blend containing this compound. (4) Conclusions: Our data confirmed that 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and 2-hydroxyoctan-3-one are male-produced pheromone components for P. detritus. These results show that both intraspecific and interspecific communication may play key roles in longhorn beetle life history and ecology, with closely and more distantly related species eavesdropping on each other’s signals.

Two bisexual lures have been developed using iso‐amyl alcohol plus acetic acid combined with red wine extract (semisynthetic bisexual lure, SBL), or synthetic floral compounds (FLO) for trapping of noctuid moths with early spring activity of adults. Orthosia species were attracted by the tested semi‐synthetic and synthetic lures indicating the possible role of the fermenting liquids and floral compounds in the feeding of these species. Bisexual lures attracted generally a lower number of individuals than the synthetic sex attractants of the given species, except for O. cerasi where FLO lures were more attractive than the sex attractant. Bisexual lures caught both sexes and females composed a sizable percentage of the catch. Since traps baited with different types of bisexual lures provided similar data on sex ratios, thus these presumably reflected the actual sex ratio of the given population. The use of these bisexual lures, especially of FLO in case of Orthosia spp., can be useful in surveys in which the capture of females and data on sex ratios are indispensable, for example in population dynamic and polyandry surveys. In contrast, in case of low population densities, the use of sex attractant lures seem to be still more efficient.