Flowers aren’t just pretty—they’re surprisingly good listeners. According to new research presented at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, plants like snapdragons can actually “hear” the tiny wingbeats of nearby pollinators—and respond in real time to boost their chances of being visited.
When bees and other pollinators hover and land, they produce subtle vibrations and buzzing sounds. These might be too faint for humans to notice, but not for plants. A team of researchers, including entomologists, sound engineers, and plant physiologists, played recordings of the wingbeats of a small bee species (Rhodanthidium sticticum) near snapdragon flowers. What happened next was remarkable.
The snapdragons increased their nectar’s volume and sugar concentration in response to the buzzing. The sounds didn’t just trigger a physical reaction—they activated changes in the plant’s gene expression related to nectar production and sugar transport. The flowers began producing sweeter, more appealing nectar when they “heard” a pollinator nearby.
According to zoologist Francesca Barbero, who led the study, this is likely an evolutionary strategy. By tuning in to specific sounds, plants can optimize their appeal to pollinators, ensuring the insects stick around longer and spread more pollen.
While the research hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal, it opens fascinating possibilities. Could plants one day be “treated” with sound to attract more pollinators and improve crop yields?
“The ability of plants to perceive acoustic signals from their environment is truly astonishing,” Barbero said. Future research will explore whether plants can use their own sounds to call pollinators in—a whole new chapter in the quiet language of nature.
