Identification and synthesis of the male produced volatiles of the carrion beetle, Oxelytrum erythrurum (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Necrophagous beetles belonging to the family Silphidae are recognized as potentially useful in forensic investigations (to estimate post mortem interval). Gas chromatography analyses of extracts of aerations of adult Oxelytrum erythrurum revealed the presence of two male-specific compounds. These compounds were identified as (Z)-1,10-nonadecadiene (major) and 1-nonadecene (minor) using microderivatizations of the natural male extract, such as hydrogenation, partial reduction and methylthiolation, mass spectrum comparisons, and co-injections with authentic standards. Both compounds might be components of a pheromone responsible for sexual communication in this species. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.