Bumblebees can sense the electric field of flowers Bashny.Net

Scientists have found that bumblebees Bombus terrestris, can feel the electric field of flowers and use that feeling to search for nectar.

Previously, scientists were already aware that bees in flight due to the rapid movement of the wings acquire a small positive electric charge. When insects land on the flower, they transfer him part of his static charge. However, until now it was not known whether they are able to feel it.





The authors decided to clarify this question by conducting the following experiment. First, by using a hollow conductor (like the ice bucket in the experience of Faraday) they found that the flying bees really have a positive charge. Second, they measured how the charge transfer bees to the flowers of petunias when they land. Finally, the researchers gave the bees to the artificial flowers, half of which was charged positively and carried the sugar solution and the other half was grounded and contained a bitter liquid.

The insects quickly learned to choose only the charged flowers. To exclude the possibility that bumblebees choose them for some other parameters (e.g. by smell), in the last experiment, the researchers stripped charge all the flowers. As a result, the insects immediately lost the ability to distinguish sweet from bitter trough.

According to scientists, was the first to discover the ability to sense the electric field in insects. Maybe have this ability and many other pollinators. The most famous ability to sense the electric field have sharks and some other fish.

 




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