Electric Boogie

As bees fly towards a flower, they create a small electric field between them and the flower. This happens because the bee becomes positively charged while flying, and the flower is usually negatively charged. This helps pollen transfer from the flower to the bee. Recent studies show that bees can sense and learn from the electric fields of flowers, along with other cues like colors and scents. When a bee lands on a flower, it slightly increases the flower’s electrical charge, signaling to other bees that the nectar may be depleted. Bees can quickly sense these electrical field changes as they approach flowers.