# What's Happenin' with Plant Toxins

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happenin-with-plant-toxins/498956>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happenin-with-plant-toxins/498956 "2009-06-06T22:25:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happenin-with-plant-toxins/498956/1 "2009-06-06T22:25:24Z")

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So I sat through\*\* The Happening \*\*last night, and I do have to say that film is sheer genius because halfway through I was ready to kill _myself_!

But kidding aside, the scene where the goofy botanist says something about a plant that emits toxins that compels a wasp to kill a specific type of caterpiller, that’s was all BS right?

Could such a toxin in theory exist? Inquiring minds want to know.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happenin-with-plant-toxins/498956/2 "2009-06-06T23:13:17Z")

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It’s quite [true](http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1690177/how_parasitic_wasps_find_their_hosts.html?singlepage=true)

> [@](#):
>
> During the wasp’s hunt for caterpillars, the plant does not remain a passive observer. In fact, its reaction to an attacking caterpillar may be the most surprising element in this predator-prey system. When chewed on, plants actively produce and release volatile compounds from both damaged and undamaged tissues. This response suggests a defensive mechanism designed to repel invaders: studies have shown that many of the volatiles released by damaged plants are toxic to insects. The wasps, however, are not repelled by these odors. Instead, they exploit the smells to Find their hosts.