Female moths can detect distress signals from plants and adjust their behaviour, according to new research from Tel Aviv University. This is the first clear evidence of plant-animal acoustic interaction, showing that moths actively respond to ultrasonic calls from stressed plants before deciding where to lay their eggs.

Plants under stress—such as dehydration or heat—emit ultrasonic signals in the 20 to 100 kilohertz range. Humans cannot hear these sounds, but moths can, using them to avoid laying eggs on plants that would provide poor conditions for their offspring.