Posted by Robin
on
9 January 2012
The Maryland organic farmer is suffering from an infestation of stink bugs—crop-consuming pests emitting the odor of cilantro mixed with burned rubber and dirty socks. They began destroying his fields of peppers and tomatoes in 2010. Now, they've invaded his Adamstown home, where Mr. Biggins crushes them by hand and has trained his English Shepherd, Coadee, to eat them.
— Got stink bugs? Read more at Out of Odor: Offensive-Smelling Bugs Put U.S. Farmers on the Defensive at the Wall Street Journal.
Posted by Robin
on
14 July 2011
The researchers, led by Fredros Okumu at the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, are developing traps using natural and artificial foot odors to lure mosquitoes and prevent them from spreading diseases like malaria. Their project was just awarded a grant from Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
— Read more at Stinky Feet Odor May Prevent Malaria Deaths at Yahoo News.
Posted by Robin
on
19 April 2011
The CDC is working on a new insect repellent using nootkatone, which is found in Alaska yellow cedar trees and citrus fruit. Listen to the story at NPR. Hat tip to Joe!
Posted by Robin
on
15 March 2011
Sex and violence, or at least death, are the key to reproduction for the orchid Satyrium pumilum. Research led by Timotheüs van der Niet at the University of KwaZulu-Natal shows that the orchid lures flies into its flowers by mimicking the smell of rotting flesh.
— Read more at Orchid Lures Flies With Scent of Rotting Flesh at Science Daily.
Posted by Robin
on
14 February 2011
Second, females may actually stop emitting male-enticing pheromones after they have mated. This occurs in the gypsy moth, so the pregnant female can flutter away without being pestered by other amorous males (Lymantria dispar).
— From Male animals can 'smell' whether a potential partner is a virgin or not at Sify News.
