Cucumber mosaic virus infects nearly 1,200 species of plants, and it’s spread by more than 75 species of aphids. In tomatoes, the virus causes stunted growth, decreased fertility, and fruit that are few, small, mottled, and sometimes rotten. CMV is obviously no friend to farmers, but a surprising new study suggests that the virus may not be all bad for the plants it infects.

This is because bumblebees are more attracted to tomato plants infected with CMV. And while tomato plants can self-pollinate, they produce more seeds when a bumblebee does their dirty work.

These findings call for a shift in how we should view the relationships between plants, pollinators, and viruses, says Groen.

Unlike most flowers, tomato plants do not give their