The Scent of a Bug

This pink hibiscus mealybug has a broad, but poisonous palate.  When it takes a bite out of one of the 200 different plant species on its menu, its toxic saliva can destroy the whole plant.

These exotic pests have recently been spotted in California and Florida.  The invasion has been hard to monitor - not to mention combat, since the mealybugs have a waxy coating that resists conventional insecticides.

But scientists at the Agricultural Research Service have isolated the scent, or pheromone, that female mealybugs use to attract males.  A synthetic version of this love potion can be used to lure in hopeful suitors.

"In many cases, just a few micrograms of the [synthetic pheromones] placed in a single sticky trap captured thousands of males," said ARS chemist Aijun Zhang.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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-- LiveScience Staff

Credit: David Hall