attractant
noun
\
Definition of attractant
: a substance (such as a pheromone) that attracts specific animals (such as insects or individuals of the opposite sex)
Examples of attractant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One problem with this pollinator attractant and sweet-smelling plant is its brittle wood is affected by strong winds. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Caterpillar invasion isn't end for healthy tree," 14 July 2018 Growers affix brown packets of pheromones or specialized attractants to the wires for when a certain butterfly shows up to lay eggs on the grape vines. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Trip to Bordeaux wine country is an educational experience," 13 July 2018 But people sometimes leave trash in the area, serving as an attractant for wild animals. — Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News, "Bear killed after it smashes SUV window and climbs inside at Anchorage trailhead," 6 July 2018 Southern pine beetles normally pool their efforts by using chemical attractants called pheromones to summon each other to target trees. — Washington Post, "Pine-killing southern beetle may be more deadly in North," 10 June 2018 Traps are simply an attractant (food or foodlike aroma) placed inside a container the pests can crawl into but can't get out of easily. — Jean Nick, Good Housekeeping, "How To Wasp-Proof Your Backyard For Outdoor Summer Living," 21 June 2017 While Council’s efforts are for his personal use and for his customers’ angling pleasure, the TP&W department also regularly relies on fish attractants as part of their habitat improvement activities. — Ralph Winingham, San Antonio Express-News, "Choke crappie: Habitat enhancements help fire up spring fishing action," 22 Feb. 2018 Catnip This fragrant mint cousin contains a natural chemical called nepetalactone, which is both a feline attractant and a useful insect repellent. — Christopher Michel, Good Housekeeping, "8 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes Naturally," 17 Feb. 2017 That suggested the ethanol wasn't solely serving as an attractant, says Ranger, whose study was published April 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — National Geographic, "These Beetles Use Booze-Soaked Trees to Farm Their Food," 9 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'attractant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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