Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by deadwood are increasingly recognised as key olfactory cues used by saproxylic beetles to locate suitable substrates, yet their role during colonisation remains poorly understood. To address this, we quantified VOC emissions and beetle assemblages while experimentally disentangling the main ecological drivers of the deadwood volatilome (tree species, sun exposure). We exposed 1200 freshly cut branches of oak, beech, spruce, and pine across Central Euro