The cuticular hydrocarbons of male and female Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were investigated, by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Measurements were done with fiber coatings of different polarity after optimization of headspace volumes and extraction temperatures. This resulted in the use of polyacrylate fiber, 22-ml vial as the sample holder, and an extraction temperature of 150 degrees C. The analytical procedures allowed identification of 13 peaks, corresponding to a homologous series of n-alkanes (nC(17)-nC(29)). The hydrocarbon profiles of male and female B. hilaris were qualitatively equal, but marked sex-specific quantitative differences were observed for some of the linear alkanes.