Dimethyl esters of succinic, glutaric, and adipic acids have been isolated, probably as artifacts, from the steam volatiles of rolled oats and have been identified by NMR and GC-MS. The isolated compounds, and also their authentic counterparts, strongly attract Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (sawtoothed grain beetle) adults in a laboratory pitfall chamber bioassay. Other bioassays utilizing commercial cardboard monitoring traps also demonstrated that the three esters were attractive. The attractancy of an oat oil-wheat germ oil-mineral oil mixture was enhanced by incorporating small amounts of authentic dimethyl glutarate into the mixture. © 1985, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.