The stink bugs Euschistus heros and Piezodorus guildinii (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are economically important soybean pests in Brazil. An intriguing characteristic of these species is the fact that they use the same chemical compounds as sex pheromone, e.g., methyl 2,6,10-trimethyldodecanoate (1) (minor) and methyl 2,6,10-trimethyltridecanoate (2). In order to investigate the specific biological function of these molecules and to increase the knowledge of the communication system of each species, we have synthesized the minor component 1 and an analogue compound, methyl 2,6,10-trimethyltetradecanoate (3). These compounds will be tested on indoor bioassay, in addition with the previously synthesized major component 2.
Piezodorus guildinii; Euschistus heros; methyl 2,6,10-trimethyldodecanoate; sex pheromone; synthesis
