Enantiomeric Specificity in a Pheromone-Kairomone System of Two Threatened Saproxylic Beetles, Osmoderma eremita and Elater ferrugineus
The scarab beetle Osmoderma eremita and its larval predator, the click beetle Elater ferrugineus, are threatened saproxylic beetles regarded as indicators of the species-richness of insect fauna of hollow deciduous trees. Male O. eremita produce the pheromone (R)-(+)-gamma-decalactone to attract conspecific females, and this compound is also utilized by E. ferrugineus as a kairomone, presumably fo
