Plant found that pretends to be sick

[Whitney]

[attachment=0:22dyrsj7]_45947365_bodyimage1.jpg[/attachment:22dyrsj7]
A moth mined leaf and a variegated leaf of Caladium steudneriifolium
A leaf damaged by mining moths (left) compared to one faking it (right).

The plants feigns sickness to stop it being attacked by insect pests known as mining moths, which would otherwise eat its healthy leaves. It is the first known example of a plant that mimics being ill, and could also explain a common pattern seen on plant leaves known as variegation

Full Text:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_ne ... 108940.stm

[Heretical Rants]

I think the moths will figure it out eventually... or not, as they have plenty of green leaves to infest.

[thiolsulfate]

If enough plants use this strategy there will very likely evolve a species of moth who can differentiate -- or a moth who can consume sick leaves and not be hindered by the plants.

Oh predation. Is there nothing more fascinating?