Behavioral Response of the Larger Black Flour Beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Olfactory Cues from Food Sources

Using an olfactometer system without air flow, we tested the attraction of Cynaeus angustus (LeConte) to freshly milled corn flour (with and without the field fungus Cladosponum spp.), agave stem pulp, Brewer’s yeast, Indianmeal moth diet, and whole wheat flour. Results showed that milled corn flour containing Cladosporium spp., Indianmeal moth diet, and agave were significantly more attractive than the other materials. These findings represent a firm basis from which the olfactory attractants may be developed for use in trapping devices to detect C.angustus infestations.