Thrips desert cycad cone

More: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12739
A study has found that certain primitive cycad plants in Australia heat themselves up and emit odors to drive pollen-covered thrips out of male cycad cones, where the tiny insects eat pollen (Credit: Irene Terry)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• cycad
• thrips
• pollen
• sex
• new
• scientist
• newscientist

[hedaman353]

how does it heat itself up exactly?

and why can I hear someone having sex in the back?

[newscientistvideo]

Hi hedaman353, in answer to your first question, the cycad heats itself up by using some of its food stores. Basically it burns some of its fat and starch.

I can't help you with your second question. All I can hear is the insects buzzing, and a bird or something similar squawking in the background. If that sounds like sex to you, that's your private issue. :)

Michael Marshall, online editorial assistant

[bereaman]

Says this video is no longer available-is it just me.?

[AlbertaAllan]

What are all those bugs crawling over the cycad?

[SponggeBobb]

I can't hear anything. All I can hear is someone breathing and buzzing.

[caosthry]

there is a sex noies in the back ground. kind of like the ants are biting someone

[moujahed]

^ LMFAO!

[bladnochthesecond]

eww.

[briach]

Sweet sex noises 5 star