Ever heard of a crying plant? No, this is not talking about tears rolling down leaves. When some plants are stressed through dehydration or other hardship, they release tiny ultrasonic clicks. Humans can’t hear them, but some insects, like moths, can. And here’s the twist: moths might listen to these plant “cries” to decide where to lay their eggs.

Decoding sounds and a crucial decision for moths 

So, here’s the backstory: Researchers found out a while ago that plants make these ultrasonic sounds when they’re under stress. These noises are like an SOS signal for insects. This got Dr Rya Seltzer, an entomologist at Tel Aviv University, wondering, “What if some insects actually interpret those sounds and use them to make decisions?”

For female moths, deciding where to lay their eggs is serious business. Their babies need a healthy plant with plenty of food to survive. Dr. Seltzer and her team put this to the test. They set up an experiment with two tomato plants. One was hydrated and quiet. The other was also healthy but playing recorded “cries” from a stressed tomato plant. Guess what? The moths flocked to the quiet plant. 

This shows that moths don’t just hear these clicks. They also figure out what they mean. They’re saying, “Thanks for the warning, stressed-out plant. We’ll pass.”

A hidden world of communication

Scientists believe this is just the beginning. Many insects hear ultrasonic sounds, and many plants release these sounds when they’re under stress. This type of communication likely happens more often than we realise, helping insects make important decisions about where to live, eat, or lay eggs.

While we used to think insects mainly used their hearing to escape predators like bats, it’s now clear they also use it for other purposes, like listening to plants. This discovery shows how connected nature is and how much more there is to learn about these hidden interactions.

What’s Next?

Experts like sensory ecologist Jodi Sedlock and zoologist Francesca Barbero are excited about these findings but say more research is needed. How do moths mix these plant sounds with other signals, like smells? And does this happen in the wild, or is it just a lab thing?

One thing’s for sure: the idea of plants “talking” to insects with sound is wild—and opens up a whole new world of nature’s hidden conversations. Who knew moths were such good listeners?