Yes, Oleic acid is emitted by the decaying corpses of a number of insects.The oleic acid smell indicates to living insects how to avoid others that have succumbed to disease or places where predators lurk. There was a segment on NPR, "The Smell of Death" describing how this acid is proving to be an excellent insect repellent. Straight Oleic acid works well with ants and bees. The adding of "essential oils" from other pests (i.e. cockroaches, rates, etc) has also proven very effective against the same. When pests smell a strong death stench of their own, the tend to stay away like it's a life or death situation --- and as far they know-it is. Just a F.Y.I. tidbit.

I really enjoyed this show. The almost childlike joy Dr. Wilson takes in his study of insects is wonderful. What a charming and gentle and truly down to earth way he has of stating his opinions.

i'm not sure i understand the leap made from "there is some genetic component to human behavior" to "this will lead to eugenics, or worse---genocide." i think it would only if the society into which it's introduced is ill enough to consider these as possible "solutions." i'd have to read more about sociobiology, but it just seems reasonable to me that some of our behavior has to do with genetics. as wilson pointed out, we're animals, we're primates---we live in social groups because we are primates. i tend to doubt that there's a specific genetic component for "hopelessly violent behavior." possibly someone could be born with a tendency to process emotions in a certain way, and the environment (ex.: abuse, neglect, etc.) can interact with this to produce someone more prone to aggression. in a positive environment, that same trait might produce a great sensitivity or even an urge to protect. i'm not sure how the concept of choice would play into a scientifically based discussion of human nature, or how it might be couched in scientific terms, but that would play a role too.since wilson noted that altruism ran counter to the idea that "survival of the fittest" determines natural selection, and since it's likely that we're altruistic in part because we're genetically designed to be that way (we're primates, we're designed to live in social groups and thus protect one another,) then the idea of eugenics and genocide run completely counter to sociobiology (and vice verse.) again---i think only the most ill society could use this idea as a justification for such actions.