Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Weird Wednesday ~ Plants Call for Help

We've all seen a caterpillar munching away on the leaves of a vegetable plant. And maybe some of you have seen a wasp laying eggs on the caterpillar that is munching away on the vegetable plant. But do you know how that wasp found that particular caterpillar?
When a caterpillar starts munching away on a vegetable plant, that plant will emit volatile compounds into the air hoping to attract a wasp (parasitoid) that will lay its eggs in the offensive caterpillar, leading to the demise of the caterpillar.
A study conducted at Wagenigen University in the Netherlands discovered which scents attract these parasitoids.

3 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I guess the plant wants revenge!

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Well! I certainly learned something new today. Simply amazing!

Introverted Art said...

oh my goodness! it's like the zombie parasite