EVIDENCE OF A SEX PHEROMONE IN THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE, COTINIS NITIDA (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE)¹

A trapping study was conducted in an area of heavy green June beetle (GJB), Cotinis nitida (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), emergence to collect evidence in support of the hypothesis that unmated females attract males with a sex pheromone. Yellow-painted baffle and funnel traps, baited with unmated females, mated females, unmated males or no beetles (control), were arranged in a Latin-cube design and randomized daily for four consecutive days. Trap catch was not significantly affected by trap placement (row or column) or time. Significantly more male beetles were caught in traps baited with unmated females than in any other treatments (P = 0.05, Duncan's multiple range test).