Attraction of Piezodorus hybneri to the aggregation pheromone components of Riptortus clavatus.

The aggregation pheromone of Riptortus clavatus (Heteroptera: Alydidae) consists of (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate (E2HZ3H), (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate (E2HE2H), and myristyl isobutyrate (MI). Experiments were conducted to examine the attraction of Piezodorus hybneri (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) to the pheromone components of R. clavatus, individually and in combination, and to determine if P. hybneri produces these compounds. Electroantennogram (EAG) responses of P. hybneri to E2HE2H were significant in a dose dependent manner, while those to E2HZ3H were not significantly different from those to hexane and air. Field trapping tests using E2HZ3H, E2HE2H, and MI, individually or in combination, showed that only E2HE2H was attractive to P. hybneri. E2HE2H was not detected in whole-body extracts or volatile collections from either sex of P. hybneri adults. We propose that the response of P. hybneri adults to the R. clavatus aggregation pheromone may be related to finding suitable host plants.