Chemistry of the metasternal gland secretion of the common eucalypt longicorn, Phoracantha semipunctata (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract

The metasternal gland secretion of Phoracantha semipunctata contains five significant volatile components, of which the most abundant is 2-hydroxy-6-methyl-benzaldehyde (1). The second most abundant component, which has been named phoraoanthol, has been shown by synthesis to be (5-ethylcyclopent-1-enyl)methanol (2). The three other components are aldehydes, derivable from phoracanthol and cis- and trans-dihydrophoracanthols, respectively. Apparently all five components are related biosynthetically.