Plants Smell Danger 1
True fruit flies are gall-inducing insects. After a female fly's eggs hatch on the plant a large growth, or gall, appears.
Plants Smell Danger 2
The tall goldenrod plant may be able to "smell" pests and prepare defenses to ward off attacks.
Plants Smell Danger 3
The tall goldenrod plant may fend off gall-inducing insect, the true fruit fly, after it smells a sex attractant emitted by the male fly, but researchers also say other herbivores are less likely to munch on the plant.
Plants Smell Danger 4
The male true fruit fly male emits a sex attractant on the tall goldenrod. Penn State researchers say that once the plant detects this attractant it prepares defenses to ward off the female fly that lays eggs in the plant's stem.
