 The western corn root worm is among the most damaging maize pests on the planet. The root worm larvae feed on the crown and brace roots of maize plants and thereby reduce their growth. But how do the larvae locate these roots in the dark? Scientists tried to answer this question and made a surprising discovery. Maize crown roots release large amounts of secondary compounds called benzoxazenoids into the soil. Some of these compounds bind iron making it available for the plant to grow. Now comes the trick. The root worm larvae are able to specifically detect these iron complexes. They follow the complexes to first find the maize plants and then the nutritious crown roots. The larvae then feed on the crown roots. Following maize iron complexes is an effective survival strategy for the corn root worm. It allows the larvae to navigate in the soil. It enhances their iron supply and growth. It even allows the larvae to obtain benzoxazenoids which are toxic to other insects and use them for self-defense. The western corn root worm is a difficult but fascinating pest. Learning about its tricks allows us to understand the strategies that herbivores can use to exploit plants. Ultimately, this knowledge may pave the way for the sustainable control of agricultural pests.