the smell of soil

[flowerbug]

is to attract critters to spread around bacterial spores.

so here is yet another example of a bacteria able to influence more directly creatures so much larger than itself:

Soil gets its smell from bacteria trying to attract invertebrates

Soil’s earthy smell comes from chemicals produced by bacteria called Streptomyces, which use the odour to attract springtails to help disperse their spores

www.newscientist.com

 

[ducks4you]

Fascinating!!