Issue link: https://owlkids.uberflip.com/i/1542643
WHAT THEY SMELL LIKE: Peanut butter or popcorn HOW THEY USE THEIR SCENT: When spadefoot toads lay eggs in the spring, a toxic chemical oozes out of their skin. This chemical smells like peanut butter or popcorn, but it's not worth a taste! Predators like snakes soon find out that the substance tastes awful and irritates the eyes. This helps spadefoot toads escape their hunters with ease. Hop along! WHAT THEY SMELL LIKE: Bananas HOW THEY USE THEIR SCENT: When a female honeybee stings, she releases a banana-like scent (or pheromone) that warns her hive of danger. Unfortunately, the sting causes the bee to die. But an army of bees still swoops in to help the critter after smelling the alarm. Canadian scientists discovered that the pheromone, called isoamyl acetate, is also produced by ripening bananas. This scent makes bees very aggressive. Watch out! HONEYBEES WHAT THEY SMELL LIKE: Tangerines HOW THEY USE THEIR SCENT: During mating season, crested auklets smell like a citrus treat—tangerines! Both males and females use the scent, along with their bright orange bills, to attract mates. The smell comes from a chemical called octanal, which is also found in tangerines. But this bird is unique. Most birds don't have strong smells because those smells could attract predators. Scientists are still learning how birds use scent to communicate. CRESTED AUKLETS SPADEFOOT TOADS owlkids.com 21