Chemical communication of Ampedus sanguinolentus (Coleoptera, Elateridae): morphological and behavioral observations

Abstract: In this study the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the female pheromone gland of Ampedus sanguinolentus (Schrank, 1976) are described. In addition, a field experiment was done to estimate the range of attraction of caged females to males. This trial was carried out both in a forest and in a wheat field. A broader attraction range was observed in the wheat field compared to the forest. Factors such as the density of the canopy, the pheromone absorption by the foliage, and the lower air mobility under the forest may explain this difference. In both ecosystems, the overall number of attracted males depended on the distance to caged females and could be described as an exponential relationship. A preliminary polynomial fit, describing the number of caught beetle in function of the distance from the caged females, is presented.