Mate location in the green capsid bug, Lygocoris pabulinus

Headspace extracts from female Lygocoris pabulinus ( L.) ( Heteroptera: Miridae) as well as female leg extracts attracted male L. pabulinus in Y-track olfactometer bioassays. In contrast, only female leg extracts were active in the vibration bioassay. Male extracts had no activity at all in either bioassay. When the female leg extract was analysed by coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (Z)-9-pentacosene and (Z)-7-pentacosene were EAD-active. (Z)-9-Pentacosene and sometimes (Z)-7-pentacosene were also observed in female headspace extracts. EAG responses could be obtained for (Z)-9-pentacosene. A mixture of (Z)-9-pentacosene and (Z)-7-pentacosene in the ratio 5 : 1 elicited vibration behaviour in males. The results indicate that these alkenes are important cues for male L. pabulinus in mate location behaviour.