Chinese scientists find smelly locust compound behind swarms August 17, 2020
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ISLAMABAD- A new study published in the journal Nature may help prevent locusts from gathering in large swarms that cause widespread damage to crops.
A research team, led by Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has found that a smelly compound emitted by locusts can attract the insects in the wild, forming a giant cluster.
According to the study, a compound called 4-vinylanisole or 4VA, has been identified as an aggregation pheromone that is responsible for the swarm behavior. It can be triggered by aggregation of four to five locusts, and its production increases with the population density.
