The secretion of the ventral glands in Cladius, Priophorus and Trichiocampus sawfly larvae.

The volatile secretion from ventral glands of the larvae of Cladius pectinicornis, Priophorus morio, P. pallipes and Trichiocampus grandis was found to be principally composed of long-chain acetogenins, in majority of the esters and hydrocarbons, with more than 15 carbon atoms. The scarcity of more volatile compounds may be considered as plesiomorphic for the tribe Cladiini to which the four species belong. Further chemotaxonomic significance and chemical ecological implications of the glandular secretions are discussed. Moreover, the function of the well-developed pubescence covering the body of Cladiini larvae is discussed as a part of their defensive mechanism.