green leaf volatiles (GLV) are plant distress signals

They found that when these plants are attacked by tobacco hornworm caterpillars, Manduca sexta, the caterpillars’ saliva causes a chemical change in the GLV compounds the plants had produced. These modified compounds then attract predatory “true bugs,” Geocoris, which prey on hornworm eggs and young larvae.

Source: The smell of freshly-cut grass is actually a plant distress call

added 2012-03-26T14:26:08Z by anders

Tags: biology biochemistry