Herbivory insects manage to influence the stomata opening of the plant they feed on. Most do this to keep the stomata closed so they minimise the release of volatile organic compounds. These scent molecules are after all responsible for attracting the enemies; predatory insects. But the tomato leafminer (Phthorimaea absoluta) does the opposite. It forces the stomata open and uses the released benzaldehyde as a cue that it is best to lay its eggs on an uninfested plant a new study found.
Tag Archives: Insect
Pollinated by roaches
Pollinated by roaches Thinking about the pollination of flowers most of us generally assume bees do all the hard work. While bees are busy as bees pollinating flowers, they are hardly the only ones recruited for the job. Loads of other insects are helping out, with bats and hummingbirds also part of the pollination workforce. AContinue reading “Pollinated by roaches”
Plant en Zo 