Plant-eating insects are strongly attracted to the pungent chemicals released
by damaged plants such as newly mown grass, according to a paper from the US
Agricultural Research Service delivered at a meeting of the American Chemical
Society. The US Department of Agriculture now plans to use the knowledge to
create new artificial plant odours to lure and trap pests. The potato beetle
will be their first target because it is attracted to spuds that have been
chewed by caterpillars.
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