The volatile components (ppm of total solids) emitted by corn silk were found to be l‐butanol (1), 1‐pentanol (7), 1‐hexanol (1), (E)‐4‐hexen‐1‐ol (4), 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol (1), acetaldehyde (5), hexanal (4), 2‐furancarboxaldehyde (furfural) (2), and phenylacetaldehyde (12). Phenylacetaldehyde was found to attract the corn earworm, European corn borer, soybean looper, tarnished plant bug,Cisseps fulvicollis, and forage looper. Combining phenylacetaldehyde with butanol or acetaldehyde increased attractiveness to some species; other combinations reduced attractiveness.