Latest news with #nectar
Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Times
Plants can ‘hear' bees coming — and sweeten their nectar to greet them
It sounds like something out of a children's book: a helpful bee buzzes past a flower and the plant, delighted by its favourite visitor, sweetens its nectar to greet it. However, research suggests this scenario may be closer to reality than previously imagined. Scientists have discovered that snapdragon plants can 'hear' the buzz of their preferred pollinators and respond by boosting the sugar content of their nectar. They also seem able to tell friend from foe. When the plants were exposed to the sounds of 'freeloader' insects that planned to sip their nectar without providing pollinating services in return, they withheld the sugary reward. This acoustic sensitivity, the researchers said, may help snapdragons and other flowers attract the right visitors — and keep 'nectar thieves'
Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- Times
How flowers sweeten their nectar when they ‘hear' friendly bees
It sounds like something out of a children's book: a helpful bee buzzes past a flower and the plant, delighted by its favourite visitor, sweetens its nectar to greet it. However, research suggests this scenario may be closer to reality than previously imagined. Scientists have discovered that snapdragon plants can 'hear' the buzz of their preferred pollinators and respond by boosting the sugar content of their nectar. They also seem able to tell friend from foe. When the plants were exposed to the sounds of 'freeloader' insects that planned to sip their nectar without providing pollinating services in return, they withheld the sugary reward. This acoustic sensitivity, the researchers said, may help snapdragons and other flowers attract the right visitors — and keep 'nectar thieves'
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Plants produce more nectar when they ‘hear' bees buzzing, scientists find
Plants can 'hear' bees buzzing and serve up more nectar when they are nearby, scientists have found. The research suggests that plants are a more active partner than previously thought in their symbiotic relationship with pollinators. The behaviour could be a survival strategy that favours giving nectar and sugar to bees over so-called nectar robbers that do not offer plants any reproductive benefits. 'There is growing evidence that both insects and plants can sense and produce, or transmit, vibro-acoustic signals,' said Prof Francesca Barbero, a zoologist at the University of Turin, who led the research. The findings add to the 'truly astonishing' multitude of ways that plants can perceive their surroundings, including the presence of beneficial and harmful insects, temperature, drought and wind, Barbero added. In future, the team suggested, buzzing noises could be used on farms as an environmentally friendly way of enhancing the pollination of crops. The scientists are not yet sure how the plants might be listening in. They could rely on mechanoreceptors, cells that respond to mechanical stimulation such as touch, pressure or vibrations. 'Plants do not have a brain, but they can sense the environment and respond accordingly,' said Barbero. After observing that bees and competing insects have distinct vibrational signals that are used in mating and other forms of communication, Barbero and her collaborators set out to investigate whether plants detected these signals. They played recordings near snapdragons of the buzzing sounds produced by snail-shell bees (Rhodanthidium sticticum), which are efficient snapdragon pollinators, comparing the plants' response to sounds produced by a non-pollinating wasp and ambient sounds. The researchers found that in response to the snail-shell bee noises, the snapdragons increased the volume of nectar and its sugar content and showed altered expression in genes that govern sugar transport and nectar production. This could be an evolutionary adaptation to coax the pollinators into spending more time at the flowers. 'The ability to discriminate approaching pollinators based on their distinctive vibro-acoustic signals could be an adaptive strategy for plants,' said Barbero. While it is clear that buzzing sounds can trigger nectar production, the scientists are now looking into whether sounds from plants are being used actively to draw in suitable pollinators. They are also testing whether the plant responses enhanced the attraction for all flower visitors – including nectar robbers – or only the best pollinators. 'Our hypothesis is that the changes in nectar we observed after treating the plants with the sounds of the best pollinators specifically increase the attraction of this particular species (Rhodanthidium sticticum),' said Barbero. 'However, to confirm this, we need to conduct choice tests to assess how different nectar concentrations attract various species. 'If this response from insects is confirmed, sounds could be used to treat economically relevant plants and crops, and increase their pollinators' attraction,' she said. The findings were presented on Wednesday at the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and 25th International Congress on Acoustics in New Orleans.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Everyone can see the flowers in this summer scene – but only those with high IQs can see the word ‘nectar' hidden
TEST your IQ to the max with this fiendishly tricky brainteaser, that will have you pulling your hair out trying to solve it. Everyone can see the flowers, but only those with the eyes of a hawk can spot the word 'nectar' hidden amongst them in under one minute and 17 seconds. 2 The recent sunny weather will likely have many of us dreaming of summer. And whether you're trying to improve your sight, or test your IQ, this bee-themed puzzle is bound to get you in the mood for summertime. Put your observation skills to the test and figure out whether you have what it takes to spot the word 'nectar' in just over one minute. Make sure to set your stopwatch before undertaking this challenge, to make it extra hard for yourself. If you can do it in under one minute and 17 seconds, you are said to have 20/20 vision. At first glance, the image, provided by Hopes Grove Nurseries looks like a beautiful summer scene filled with flowers and bees. However, the most eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot that there is a hidden word amongst the flowers. This brainteaser works by tricking your eyes into thinking that there are no words hidden within the image. But rest assured, the world nectar is definitely hidden within the picture. Unless you're lucky enough to find the word immediately, we recommend analysing the picture very closely to spot the answer. Only one in four hawk-eyed geniuses can find the odd-one-out number sequence in under 40 seconds The visual deception of this image will have you peeling your eyes, but the payoff is worth it. If you need a hint, we recommend focusing on the individual flowers/ The letters are mostly hidden among the petals, with one hidden among the grass. Another tricky brainteaser features a gnarled tree but only those with high IQ can spot a sleepy cat hiding on it. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions. Some benefits include: Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility. Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function. Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes. Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus. Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief. If that's still not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds. Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band's cover art that has confused fans for years. Lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds. Coming back to our challenge -were you able to solve it in under one minute and 17 seconds? For those struggling to find the answer, we have marked out the solution for you.
