The defensive secretion of Eurycotis floridana (Dictyoptera, Blattidae, Polyzosteriinae): Chemical identification and evidence of an alarm function

0965-1748 doi: DOI: 10.1016/S0965-1748(97)00033-7The defensive secretion of the cockroach Eurycotis floridana was believed to contain only (E)-2-hexenal. However, we have shown it consists of 40 components, of which 30 were tentatively identified. (E)-2-Hexenal, (E)-2-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenoic acid represented approximately 98% of the organic phase. The other 2% included 10 aldehydes, 10 alcohols, four acids, two lactones and one ether. Four compounds are novel insect exudates: 3-ethoxyhexanal, 3-hydroxyhexanal, [(E)-1-pentenyl]-4-propyl-1,3-dioxane and 3-[(E)-2-hexenoxyl-hexanal. In addition to its well-known allomonal function, we have demonstrated that the defensive secretion also acts as an alarm pheromone