This study builds on prior research showing plants emit ultrasonic distress sounds when under stress, which are inaudible to humans but detectable by animals like moths.

Prof. Yossi Yovel and Prof. Lilach Hadany propose that stressed plants might communicate drought conditions through sound, potentially influencing water conservation among surrounding plants.

The discovery suggests a co-evolution where both plants and animals adapt their abilities to produce and perceive sounds for mutual benefit.

Prof. Yossi Yovel emphasized that this is the first demonstration of an animal responding to plant-produced sounds, opening new avenues for research.

These ultrasonic sounds serve as a form of communication, warning other organisms about the plant's distress, similar to chemical signals.

The research is still developing, with future studies planned to explore different plant sounds and their effects on various animal species, opening a vast, unexplored field.

The study was led by researchers from Tel Aviv University, including Prof. Yossi Yovel and Prof. Lilach Hadany, and published in eLife, with contributions from Rya Seltzer and Guy Zer Eshel.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that plants and insects communicate acoustically, with female moths able to detect ultrasonic distress signals from dehydrated tomato plants, influencing their egg-laying choices.

In experiments, female moths preferred silent tomato plants over those emitting sounds from drying plants, indicating that sound cues are used for selecting egg-laying sites.

The findings, published in the journal eLife, mark a significant advancement in understanding plant-animal interactions and acoustic communication within ecosystems.

These insights highlight the complex communication networks in ecosystems, revealing intricate relationships between plants and animals.

Understanding plant acoustic signals could lead to innovative methods for pest control and crop health management, as animals respond to these sounds.