Bumblebees Detect Electrical Signals Transmitted By Flowers Through Their Tiny Hairs

The researchers from the University of Bristol discovered that bumblebees can detect electrical fields through their tiny, vibrating hairs. The flowers usually communicate with pollinators by sending out electrical signals. The study indicates that the electric fields can wield physical force on the tiny body hairs of the bumblebee. This cause them to move and the hairs transmit nerve signals to the brain.

Bees use electrical fields of flowers to to tell them apart https://t.co/OzcYh4HOL5

— Botanical Ontologies (@Bot_Ontologies) May 31, 2016

Science Daily reports that the study was printed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers utilized a laser to gauge the vibrations. They found out that both the bee's antenna and hairs ward off in response to an electric field. On the other hand, the hairs move more quickly and with overall greater replacements. They also discovered that their hairs alerted the bees' nervous system to this signal.

The study was led by Dr. Gregory Sutton, a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences. He said that they were enthused to discover that bees' tiny hairs dance in response to electric fields. He added that it was like when humans hold a balloon to their hair. He further explained that a lot of insects have the same body hairs, which leads to the chance that many members the insect world may be equally perceptive to small electric fields.

The researchers also found out that the tiny body hairs were more sensitive to electric fields and they moved faster in response than the antennae, according to Mashable. The body hairs, when stimulated, caused a significant increase in the activation of nerve cells. This study implies that the bees' tiny hairs are the secrets of their extraordinary ability.