Behavioural evidence of methyl‐2,6,10‐trimethyltridecanoate as a sex pheromone of Euschistus heros (Het., Pentatomidae)

Males of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros , were attractive to conspecific females in bioassays. A synthetic stereoisomeric mixture of methyl‐2,6,10‐trimethyltridecanoate, previously identified and presumed as the male‐produced pheromone, was confirmed to attract females. A 24 h bioassay showed the presence of a diel periodicity, where the females respond to males from noon to midnight. A still‐air olfactometer assembled from commercially available food containers was used to test the attractants from E. heros.