"Some cycads warm up their reproductive organs to attract specially equipped pollinating beetles in the dark."
"Cycads are the oldest living group of seed-producing plants - and it seems they use infrared heat signals to attract specialized nocturnal weevils that deliver their pollen."
Cycads, the oldest living group of seed-producing plants, thermoregulate their reproductive organs to produce infrared heat that attracts specialized nocturnal weevils. The warmed reproductive structures emit infrared cues that guide infrared-sensitive beetles through darkness to locations where pollen is available. The specialist weevils possess sensory adaptations enabling detection of thermal signals and facilitate pollen transfer during visits. The mutualistic interaction relies on plant-generated thermal advertising and insect sensory specialization, increasing pollination efficiency at night. Thermal attraction likely evolved to enhance reproductive success in low-light environments and maintain pollination fidelity between cycads and their beetle pollinators.
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