Coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic responses of Lygocoris pabulinus (L.) to female and male produced volatiles

GC profiles of airborne volatiles produced by adult female and male green capsid bugs, Lygocoris pabulinus, were almost identical with the exception of a small amount of mono-alkenes being produced only in females. Coupled gas chromatography/electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) recordings revealed that three compounds were consistently EAD-active. These were hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal. Male antennae reacted strongly to these three compounds whereas female antennae gave no or little response. These compounds may be important chemical signals for male L. pabulinus in their long-range communication with conspecifics.