Scientists Found That Bean Plants Can Summon Wasps to Fight Their Battles

Summary: Bean plants have a secret weapon against hungry caterpillars: they call in wasps for backup! When a caterpillar chews on a bean leaf, a special part of the plant called the INR receptor senses the bug's spit. The plant then releases a chemical scent into the air that tells predatory wasps there is free food nearby. The wasps fly in and eat the caterpillars, saving the plant. Scientists found that plants without this receptor attracted 40% fewer wasps, letting caterpillars grow much bigger. This cool trick could help farmers use fewer chemical bug sprays in the future.

For more details, see rssapp-vice-com at vice.com/en/article/scientists-found-that-bean-plants-can-summon-wasps-to-fight-their-battles/ (opens in new tab)