OT: Insects can hear stressed plants

Israeli scientists: Stressed plants emit ultrasonic sounds influencing insect behavior

Female moths avoid plants emitting distress sounds, Israeli scientists find.

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, JULY 16, 2025

Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered for the first time that animals respond to sounds made by plants. The study, published in the journal eLife, found that female moths avoid laying eggs on tomato plants that emit distress sounds associated with water shortage…

According to the researchers, the sounds emitted by the plants are ultrasonic, beyond the hearing range of the human ear, but moths can hear them. It was assumed that the moths search for the best place to lay eggs—healthy plants that can properly nourish the larvae…

Two years ago, the same group of scientists was the first to prove that plants emit ultrasonic sounds when they are stressed or unhealthy, including clicks similar to popcorn popping. These sounds cannot be perceived by humans but can be detected by animals…The sounds produced by plants are generated through physical effects caused by changes in their local conditions and are not intentional…

The team plans to investigate the sounds that different plants emit and whether other species make decisions based on these sounds. They are also examining whether plants can transmit information to each other through sound and act in response, such as conserving water in drought conditions… [end quote]

The moth in question needed a healthy plant to sustain its caterpillars so it avoided drought-stricken plants. But other insects might use the information to attack weakened plants.

This is a whole new field of research. If harmful insects could be repelled by sound then recordings might be used instead of insecticides. If insects are attracted by sound then microphones and AI could control irrigation to optimize watering.

Could plants “hear” each other and react? They certainly can detect chemical signals and react.

Wendy

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Fascinating.

I guess I have some very healthy tomato plants !

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No moths in my garden, that’s for sure.

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If only I could figure out what sounds would repel raccoons…

If only I could figure out what sounds would repel raccoons…

Get a border collie or German Shepherd dog.
Wendy

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