Researchers Figure Out How Bees Pick Up Messages Flowers Are Sending
- 8 years ago
According to a study by researchers at the University of Bristol, bumblebees’ hairs alert to them to the electric signals flowers are sending.
Bumblebees and flowers clearly have a very close relationship, but what has remained largely a mystery is how they communicate with one another.
Though scientists have known for some time that blooms send electric signals, determining how the buzzing pollinators detect them has remained elusive.
According to a study by researchers at the University of Bristol, it all comes down to the bees’ hairs.
When the fuzzy little flyers are in the presence of flower signals, their hairs deflect and move at a quickened pace.
Further study revealed the hairs appear to be the only floral alert signal recognized by the bee nervous system.
Discovering this means of electroreception could aid in th
Bumblebees and flowers clearly have a very close relationship, but what has remained largely a mystery is how they communicate with one another.
Though scientists have known for some time that blooms send electric signals, determining how the buzzing pollinators detect them has remained elusive.
According to a study by researchers at the University of Bristol, it all comes down to the bees’ hairs.
When the fuzzy little flyers are in the presence of flower signals, their hairs deflect and move at a quickened pace.
Further study revealed the hairs appear to be the only floral alert signal recognized by the bee nervous system.
Discovering this means of electroreception could aid in th