Trees Cry, Moths Listen: Plants and Insects Communicate Through Sound
Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel have demonstrated for the first time that plants and insects can communicate through sound. A new study in the journal eLife enhances our understanding of plants.
The research found that stressed tomato plants emit ultrasonic sounds inaudible to humans when they lack water. Using highly sensitive microphones, the scientists were able to record these sounds. It was discovered that a dry tomato plant emits around 30 to 50 ultrasonic signals per hour. While humans cannot hear them, many insects—particularly moths—can detect these signals.
Researchers found that when they played recorded sounds of stressed tomato plants to moths, the insects avoided laying eggs on those plants. Instead, they chose healthy, unstressed plants. Moths reacted to plants’ distress signals and used this information to influence their reproduction, showcasing natural communication and environmental adaptation.
Professor Lilach from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Tel Aviv University explained that plants can communicate with their environment using chemical signals. For instance, when attacked by harmful insects, some plants release specific scents to warn neighboring plants. However, this study is the first to provide concrete evidence of direct communication between plants and animals through sound.
This discovery could open new doors in agriculture and environmental management. Identifying and interpreting ultrasonic plant signals could help farmers detect early signs of water stress or disease in their crops, allowing for timely intervention. Moreover, it could help reduce the need for pesticides, enabling more eco-friendly pest control methods.
This research marks a revolutionary step toward understanding the “silent language” of plants. Trees and plants may seem silent, but they actually communicate acoustically to survive, and insects are tuning in. This hidden communication between plants and animals shows a complex intelligence in nature that humans are just starting to discover.
