A study led by Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and colleagues found support for the hypothesis that European corn borers (Ostrinia nubilalis) preferred laying eggs on corn raised on conventionally managed soil over corn raised on organically raised soil. Because corn modified with Bt insecticidal proteins that kill European corn borers is often used on conventionally managed farms, this preference by corn borers leads to what the researchers call a potential “unintentional attract-and-kill” mechanism that could help control this crop pest. (Photo by Dan Olmstead)