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Bean plants recruit wasps to fight caterpillars
Originally published Jun 3, 2026
By Jacek Krywko · Ars Technica
AI-generated summary based on Ars Technica · Aggregated by OffScreenSpace · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 3, 2026
Key points
- Bean plants release chemicals when eaten by caterpillars.
- The chemicals attract parasitic wasps to the area.
- The wasps help reduce caterpillar numbers by parasitizing them.
- This defense mechanism is part of the plant's immune response.
When under attack by caterpillars, bean plants emit chemicals that attract parasitic wasps. These wasps help control the caterpillar population by parasitizing them. The process is triggered by the plant's immune response to the damage caused by the feeding insects.
Read the original story: Ars Technica