Olfactory behavior of red flour beetleTribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) towards natural fatty acid esters.

The olfactory responses of red flour beetles,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), to methyl and ethyl ester of C14-C18 fatty acid prepared from tallow were studied. Methyl octadecanoate and ethyl octadecanoate discouraged aggregation of beetle adults. Ethyl 9.12-octadecadienoate acted as a repellent. Methyl pentadecanoate and ethyl tetradecanoate induced copulation at the level of 5 × 10(2) and 2 × 10(3) μg, respectively. The maximum response was observed at the level of 5 × 10(2) μg of the same compounds, and these compounds appear to stimulate males only.