Insects rely on sounds made by distressed vegetation to guide reproduction

https://archive.ph/tPyz8

Okay so months can pick up ultrasonic sounds, plants emit such sounds when stressed, and the moths prefer plants that aren't emitting stress signals to increase likelihood of offspring survival. Every part of that seems pretty amazing.

Is the sound part real? What frequencies are used to communicate stress? Is this in range of anything I could connect to a raspberry pico or arduino? My flowers desperately need answers :D

For what purpose does the plant emit sounds when it's dehydrated? Or is it just a consequence of being dehydrated like withering

It is so utterly deranged and insane that NYT says plants are making "mournful cries" when the source paper doesn't support that. When I'm hungry the sounds my stomach makes on its own isn't me weeping and wailing. When I'm flatulent that sound is not a joyful scream.

A recent book, the Light Eaters, summarises much of the recent research into plant behaviour like this, including how maligned and misreported it has been over the past 50 years or so.

The system is in complete harmony. Sometimes the predators are in the ascendancy, sometimes the prey. Our science has little comprehension of the grandeur of the totality of Nature's balance, simply because the willful ignorance of the vast majority of the human race keeps us so out of balance in its destructively selfish competitions.

We are the only creatures who can choose to manifest a selflessly compassionate ethos, instead of selfishly cruel indifference. When we choose compassionate service to all (including the Earth, herself), we not only improve the lives of those around us (and foment our own internal peace and happiness), but we also clariy our perception, allowing us to more deeply grok Nature's intricately beautiful systems that provide our sustenance.

Only in caring for each other, we will learn how to properly care for our blessed mother Earth.

If a tree is distressed in the forest and there are no insects there to hear it, does it make a sound?

> Other researchers offered a more cautious assessment of the paper.

I’ve been doing a lot of gardening the last couple of years and it still surprises me how often when I’m cutting weeds a yellow jacket will show up to see if there’s anything to eat.

When they’re hunting they seem to ignore humans entirely. I still think hornets are generally assholes but I’ve come around a bit on some species of wasp.

This implies something: that AI could detect distressed plants. No? I wonder what signals are audible.

I wonder how you get the NYtimes to discuss a preprint?

It feels like a whole new dimension of plant-insect interaction that we’re just starting to uncover...

And how about chemicals released by plants, like cut grass?

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