In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at Tel Aviv University have found the first-ever evidence that animals can detect and respond to sounds produced by plants—sounds that are inaudible to the human ear but can be picked up by certain insects, bats, and mammals.
The study revealed that female moths avoided laying eggs on tomato plants that emitted high-frequency sounds associated with distress.
This suggests the moths were able to identify unhealthy plants based on their acoustic signals—a form of silent communication previously unknown in nature.
Professor Yossi Yovel, who led the research, described it as a major step forward in understanding plant-animal interactions. “This is the first demonstration ever of an animal responding to sounds produced by a plant,” he said. “It opens the door to the idea that animals might make important decisions based on what they ‘hear’ from plants—whether to pollinate, feed, or avoid them altogether.”
The discovery builds on previous research by the same team, which found that plants emit ultrasonic sounds when under stress—such as during dehydration or physical damage. These sounds, while undetectable to human ears, are created by physical changes within the plant and are not the result of sentience.
To rule out visual cues, the team ran a series of tightly controlled experiments. The results confirmed that it was the sound—rather than appearance or scent—that influenced the moths’ behavior.
The researchers are now exploring whether other species respond similarly to plant sounds, and whether plants themselves can “hear” and respond to distress signals from nearby vegetation—possibly by conserving water or activating defense mechanisms.
“This is an exciting question,” said Professor Lilach Hadany, co-author of the study. “If plants can perceive and react to each other’s sounds, it hints at a hidden layer of communication in nature.”
While scientists stress that plants are not conscious beings, the findings suggest that plants and animals may have coevolved the ability to send and receive sound signals to enhance survival. As Professor Hadany puts it, “This is a vast, unexplored field—an entire world waiting to be discovered.”
The study was published in the journal eLife.
