Monday, July 27, 2026
Science

Moth wings reveal an unexpected ability to smell plant chemicals

Insect wings are bristling with senses, feeling the wind blowing and even tasting potential mates, but little was known about whether moth wings are equipped with a sense of smell. Sonja Bisch-Knaden and Bill Hansson from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany, had a hunch that moth...

Moth wings reveal an unexpected ability to smell plant chemicals
Image: Phys.org
Insect wings are bristling with senses, feeling the wind blowing and even tasting potential mates, but little was known about whether moth wings are equipped with a sense of smell. Sonja Bisch-Knaden and Bill Hansson from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany, had a hunch that moth wings might be able to sniff out certain aromas.

Originally published at Phys.org

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