19/07/2025
We are still learning so much about the interactions which occur in nature. Every new little discovery is so amazing in and of itself and feels me with awe contemplating the complexity and intricacies of the interconnections between everything 🤯
We are nature and part of this web of life too😮
A groundbreaking study from Tel Aviv University, published in eLife on July 15, 2025, reveals that tomato plants emit ultrasonic sounds when under stress—specifically when dehydrated—and that these sounds can alter insect behavior.
These sounds, which are inaudible to the human ear, are detected by certain insects such as female Spodoptera littoralis moths.
In a controlled lab environment, researchers found that these moths actively avoided laying eggs on dehydrated plants that emitted ultrasonic clicks.
Remarkably, when researchers played these distress sounds through speakers near healthy plants, moths still avoided them, indicating they rely on sound rather than visual or olfactory cues to assess plant health.
When the moths' auditory abilities were blocked, they showed no preference between the healthy and stressed plants, further confirming that their behavior was sound-driven.
This research provides the first documented evidence that plant-generated sounds can directly influence insect decisions, revealing a new channel of plant-animal interaction.
The discovery challenges the traditional belief that plants communicate only through chemicals or visual cues. Scientists are optimistic that this could lead to the development of new, non-chemical pest deterrents by mimicking or amplifying stress sounds to protect crops.
Furthermore, the study opens avenues for exploring whether other animals—like bats or rodents—can also interpret plant distress acoustics in natural settings.
Overall, this research uncovers a hidden layer of ecological communication, demonstrating that plants do "talk," and that insects "listen"—an insight that could reshape both ecological theory and agricultural practices.
