A recent study published by The Guardian revealed that plants can respond to the sound of bees’ rapid movements. It found that when flowers “hear” the buzzing of bee wings, they are triggered to increase nectar production when pollinators are nearby.
The study, led by Dr. Francesca Barbero, a zoologist at the University of Turin, suggests that these sounds could be used as an eco-friendly method to boost pollination. It also highlights growing evidence that both insects and plants can sense, produce, and transmit vibrational sound signals.
Plants sense their environment in remarkable ways
A plant’s response to the buzzing of bees is just one of many remarkable mechanisms that allow it to perceive its surrounding environment. Plants can detect the presence of both beneficial and harmful insects, sense changes in temperature, respond to drought conditions, and even measure wind speed and direction.
Despite these astonishing abilities, scientists are still trying to unravel the mystery of how plants “hear” sounds. Scientific hypotheses suggest that plants may rely on mechanoreceptors — specialized cells that react to various physical stimuli such as touch, pressure, and vibrations. Remarkably, plants perform all these functions without a central nervous system, which demonstrates the evolution of unique sensory systems that enable them to interact effectively with their environment.
How Do Plants Hear Without Ears?
Researchers have made an intriguing discovery about plants’ ability to “hear” and respond to sounds. They found that plants are highly sensitive to sound vibrations, especially those produced by pollinators like bees.
The research team conducted a series of precise experiments on snapdragon plants (Antirrhinum majus), exposing them to various recorded sounds — including the buzzing of bumblebees, one of the main pollinators for this plant species — as well as sounds from other insects and general background noise. The results revealed an astonishing response.
The findings showed that plants respond selectively to the buzzing of bees in particular. Researchers recorded a significant increase in nectar production, along with a noticeable rise in sugar concentration. They also observed changes in the activity of genes responsible for producing and transporting sugars within the plant. This selective response indicates the presence of an advanced biological mechanism that enables the plant to distinguish between different sounds.
Dr. Barbero, who led the research team, explained that this phenomenon represents a clever adaptive strategy that plants have developed over time. The ability to recognize the sound of beneficial pollinators and stimulate nectar production only when they are nearby allows the plant to allocate its resources more efficiently. Instead of producing nectar constantly, the plant produces it only when needed, conserving energy and ensuring more effective pollination.
She added that this discovery marks an important step toward understanding the complex interactions among living organisms and opens new horizons for sustainable agriculture that relies on natural interactions within ecosystems.
How Do Bees Contribute to Plant Pollination?
Bees are attracted to plants by the bright colors and fragrant scents of flowers. They seek nectar as a food source, and when a bee lands on a flower, pollen grains stick to its body. Using its long tongue, the bee collects nectar and stores it in a special stomach. As the bee moves from one flower to another, it transfers pollen grains, which leads to the pollination of plants.
These significant scientific findings were presented at the 25th International Congress on Acoustics, held in New Orleans on May 21, 2025. The research attracted considerable interest from the scientific community and opened the door to exploring practical applications in the agricultural sector.
