Sex pheromone of Nearctic <scp><i>Agriotes mancus</i></scp> and its similarity to that of three Palearctic <scp><i>Agriotes</i></scp> invasive in North America

Abstract The wheat wireworm, Agriotes mancus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is a predominant elaterid pest species in the Nearctic region, with life history and morphology similar to those of obscurus , lineatus sputator three Palearctic elaterids invasive North America. Here, we report identification field testing sex pheromone A. mancus. We collected headspace volatiles from female beetles on Porapak Q, analysed aliquots extract by gas chromatography electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) GC‐mass spectrometry. In GC‐EAD recordings, two esters—geranyl butanoate geranyl hexanoate—elicited antennal responses males. experiments, trap lures containing both hexanoate afforded large captures males, which were—on average—approximately 30‐fold higher than traps baited single ester. Traps as single‐component lure captured significant number indicating establishment its invaded range . With now known, it can be included development pheromone‐based programmes monitor manage native pests