A male orchid bee zips around the rainforest, a flash of iridescent green against an equally emerald background. The bee stops at various flowers, fungi and dead trees, collecting fragrant particles and storing them in pockets in its hind legs. ...it flitters about, using its wings to disperse a bouquet of perfumes into the air.
The aromatic efforts are all for the sake of attracting a mate.
— Read more in A single gene for scent reception separates two species of orchid bees at Phys.org.
Geosmin is one of the most recognizable and common microbial smells on the planet, and scientists from FIU, Lund University and University of Washington have discovered the organic compound is particularly appealing to mosquitoes looking for a place to lay their eggs.
“It’s the smell of rain as it drops on the parched earth,” said FIU biologist Matthew DeGennaro, who was part of the team that made the discovery. “We now know geosmin is part of the story of how mosquitoes breed.”
— Read more in Scientists bait mosquitoes with one of Earth’s most common scents at Florida International University.
One way birds stay clean is by spreading around oil produced by the preen, or uropygial, gland. It’s thought that the oil is primarily used to preserve feathers, but previous studies of bird olfaction have also shown that some species communicate using the oil. Researchers have shown that some birds show a preference for certain oily smells, with some songbirds ditching the father of their chicks if a better smelling stud comes along.
— Read more at Birds Sniff Each Other’s Bacteria to Help Choose a Mate at Smithsonian.
The study found that rats reacted differently to male and female pheromones. Regardless of risk, rats — particularly males — were observed to “scout out” areas with male pheromones, often later avoiding them. Areas sprayed with female pheromones, however, were visited significantly more often than male-sprayed areas.
— Can rat pheromones solve New York City's rat problem? Read more in Fordham Research Repels NYC’s Rodents at Fordham Observer.
It’s Friday and World Animal Day! Our community project for today: do what you like with the World Animal Day theme.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I’m getting cp points and extending my summer with L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons…