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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

Plants produce more nectar when they ‘hear’ bees buzzing, scientists find

A bee collects pollen from a crocus
A bee collects pollen from a crocus in Liberec, Czech Republic. Researchers are now looking at whether plants respond only to the best pollinators. Photograph: Slávek Růta/Zuma Press/Rex/Shutterstock

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.

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