FIELD RESPONSES OF STINK BUGS TO THE NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC PHEROMONE OF THE NEOTROPICAL BROWN STINK BUG, EUSCHISTUS-HEROS (HETEROPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE)

The synthetic racemic mixture of methyl 2,6,10-trimethyltridecanoate, a component of the male produced pheromone of Euschistus heros (F.) (H eteroptera, Pentatomidae), was attractive to pentatomid species in a f ield test, using homemade pheromone trap designs. The pentatomid Piezo dorus guildinii was caught in high numbers in field traps, during two field experiments, indicating a consistent response of this species to the E, heros pheromone. A correlation was found between the range of insects caught in the pheromone-baited traps and a random sampling met hod. The synthetic stereoisomeric mixture of methyl 2,6,10-trimethyldo decanoate, a minor component of E. heros pheromone, was also held test ed and caught no pentatomids. Egg parasitoids were caught in traps bai ted with E. heros pheromone, indicating that this pheromone can be exp loited as a kairomone. A synchrony in the periodicity of trap catch, b etween the egg parasitoids and their host, was also recorded.