The scent of love: Decomposition and male sex pheromones
Monday, August 13, 2012 - 20:30
in Biology & Nature
Young virgin female hide beetles (Dermestes maculatus) are attracted to cadavers by a combination of cadaver odour and male sex pheromones, finds a new study. Neither cadaver scent, nor male sex pheromones alone, caught the fancy of the fussy females. This predilection ensures that there is both a waiting male and food for her larvae, and optimizes the chances of reproductive success.