Methyl (2 E ,4 Z )-decadienoate was isolated and identified as the major male-specific volatile of Euschistus conspersus, E. tristigmus, E. servus, E. politus , and E. ictericus . In a sixth species, E. obscurus , this ester is a relatively minor male-specific component, with the major component being tentatively identified as methyl 2,6-dimethyltetradecanoate. Females, males, and nymphs of E. conspersus, E. tristigmus, E. servus , and E. politus were significantly attracted to methyl (2 E ,4 Z )-decadienoate in field tests conducted in California and Maryland. Tests in Maryland also demonstrated that parasitic tachinid flies use the Euschistus unsaturated methyl-ester as a host-finding kairomone. It is not yet clear what role minor volatile components of Euschistus play in reproductive isolation.
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Aldrich et al. (1991) studied this question.