New co-attractants synergizing attraction of Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea to the known floral attractant

To improve the efficiency of the known floral attractant of Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea [3-methyl eugenol, 1-phenylethanol and (E)-anethol] electroantennographic tests were conducted using the antennae of both species. Among synthetic floral compounds eliciting the highest responses from the antennae, geraniol, (+/-)-lavandulol and ss-ionone, were chosen for field experiments. In field trapping tests in Hungary the addition of (+/-)-lavandulol to the known attractant resulted in significantly higher catches of both scarabs than the ternary blend alone or the single compounds. Only geraniol resulted in higher catches of P. cuprea when added to the ternary attractant. The addition of ss-ionone to the known attractant decreased catches. In further tests the addition of geraniol in the same single dispenser as the known ternary mixture plus (+/-)-lavandulol did not increase catches of C. a. aurata and P. cuprea. The improved bait consisting of 3-methyl eugenol/1-phenylethanol/(E)-anethol/(+/-)-lavandulol described in this study is recommended for use in trapping of C. a. aurata and P. cuprea for agricultural purposes.