Defensive secretions of three oxytelinae rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae).

The secretions of the abdominal glands ofBledius spectabilis Kraatz,Platystethus arenarius Fourcr., andOxytelus piceus L. have been shown to contain four 1-alkenes; toluquinone; toluhydroquinone; C10 (-)-,C11 (-), C12 (-)-, and C14 (-) γ-lactones; C12-δ-lactone; citral; and decyl-, undecyl-, and dodecyl acetates. Quantitative results indicate that 1-alkenes are formed probably from present lactones by decarboxylation. According to the known life histories of the beetles, it is suggested that the gland material is not used as an algal growth regulator but represents a unique defensive blend characteristic for the whole subfamily.