SEMIOCHEMICALS OF THE SCARABAEINAE .5. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DEFENSIVE SECRETION OF THE DUNG BEETLE ONITICELLUS-EGREGIUS

Using techniques that were developed for the concentration and analysi s of airborne organic volatiles, methyl salicylate and 1,4-benzoquinon e were found to be the only two compounds present in detectable quanti ties in the effluvium of Oniticellus egregius. These two compounds, pr eviously identified in the defensive secretions of other arthropods, a re presumed to be produced as a defense mechanism against predators, s uch as birds. Methyl salicylate and 1,4-benzoquinone have thus far not been found to occur in other Scarabaeinae.