About this episode
The episode discusses how the common bean plant uses chemical signals to attract wasps as a defense mechanism against caterpillars.
In our latest science news roundup: how nature adapts, for better or worse. When faced with pests, plants may not be able to run away – but that doesn’t mean they’re defenseless. Some have thorns or spines, others have poisonous leaves or berries, and still others have…elaborate chemical defense alarm systems? In a recent study , researchers discovered that the common bean plant, P. vulgaris , has a particularly innovative response to hungry caterpillars: a compound in the caterpillar's spit causes the plants to release a chemical signal that attracts wasps. Those wasps then eat the caterpillars or lay eggs in their bodies, effectively removing the threat. Today on the show, we’re diving into plant science and a round of other new scientific studies with All Things Considered host Sacha Pfeiffer. If you're interested in the fibermaxxing episode Han mentioned, check it out here . Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Host: Sacha Pfeiffer
Topics covered
- plant science
- chemical defense
- wasps
- caterpillars
- adaptation
- research studies
Keywords
- bean plant
- wasps
- caterpillars
- chemical signals
- defense mechanisms
- plant adaptation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NPR
Products: P. vulgaris
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