Tel Aviv University Study Finds Plants and Moths Interact Through Sound

The research, published in eLife, reveals that female moths decide where to lay their eggs based on ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants.

By Shula Rosen

In a groundbreaking study, Tel Aviv University researchers have presented the first scientific evidence that plants and insects interact acoustically.

The research, published in eLife, reveals that female moths decide where to lay their eggs based on ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants, a discovery that could reshape our understanding of plant–animal communication.

The work is the result of collaboration between Prof. Yossi Yovel of the School of Zoology and Prof. Lilach Hadany of the School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, with experiments led by students Dr. Rya Seltzer and Guy Zer Eshel.

They partnered with colleagues at the Plant Protection Institute of the Volcani Institute, an organization affiliated with Israel’s Agriculture Ministry.

Two years ago, Yovel and Hadany demonstrated that plants emit clicking sounds—resembling popcorn popping—at varying rates.

Healthy plants clicked only once per hour, while those under stress, such as from drought, produced dozens of clicks. The new research asked the next question: Who is listening?

Since moths are known to detect ultrasonic frequencies, the team conducted a series of experiments with African cotton leafworm moths (Spodoptera littoralis).

In one trial, females were given a choice between two tomato plants—one well-watered and one drying out. They consistently laid eggs on the healthier plant.

In another, when only recordings of distressed plants were played, moths were drawn to the sounds, apparently recognizing them as signs of plant presence.

To test whether sound perception was crucial, researchers blocked the moths’ hearing. With hearing impaired, the moths displayed no preference, confirming that sound guided their choices.

Additional trials showed that while females responded strongly to plant-emitted clicks, they did not react in the same way to ultrasonic sounds made by male moths, laying eggs equally on both sides of the enclosure.

Prof. Hadany explained that female moths seek the best conditions for their larvae: “We assumed the females would avoid laying on stressed plants that cannot nourish their offspring. The experiments confirmed that they indeed respond to these cues.”

The researchers conclude that their findings reveal only the beginning of a new field. “Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtless has many more forms and roles,” they wrote. “This is an unexplored world waiting to be discovered.”