Infrared radiation may be one of the most ancient plant signals to pollinating insects

Infrared radiation is an invitation to pollinating insects

Nicholas Bellono (from left), Wendy Valencia Montoya, and Naomi Pierce. Veasey Conway/Harvard Staff Photographer Science & Tech First, male gets heated up, then female, and then, you know Study shows infrared radiation from plants serves as invitation to pollinating insects Kermit Pattison Harvard Staff Writer December 12, 2025 7 min read Brace yourself for a hot story about plant sex. Harv…

Infrared radiation may be one of the most ancient plant signals to pollinating insects

Harvard researchers have discovered that cycads—one of the oldest living lineages of seed plants—heat up their reproductive organs to attract beetle pollinators and the insects possess infrared sensors to detect these signals.