Latest news with #snapdragon
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'
