A new study reveals how bees apparently possess tiny vibrating hairs that help them detect flowers. These ultra fine hairs specifically sense electric fields that are emanating out of flowers, for the tiny insects to obtain pollen.

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Researchers from the University of Bristol also suggest that more animals are using these highly sensitive natural sensors for more accurate navigation. Scientists already know that bumblebees have the ability to sense and detect electrical signals from flowers, however, they still do not know the exact mechanism of this process, until this new study.

In this new study, findings reveal how bumblebees can pick up these static electricity charges from their hairs and then send these messages throughout their nervous system. According to lead author of the study, Gregory Sutton of the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, this has been a very exciting discovery that the tiny hairs on bees can "dance" as a response to these electric fields, which is quite similar as to how humans react when a balloon is held up against hair.

Sutton explains that there are also many insects that also possess similar bodily hairs, which can strongly suggest that many insect species are also predisposed to be as sensitive to smaller electric fields in their environment.

Flowers in general, make use of their most beautiful parts to attract pollinators such as bees, like their brightly colored petals and sweet scents which can be advantageous in catching the attention of numerous insects.

In this new research however, flowers are also shown to utilize static electricity to establish a direct connection to the nervous systems of bumblebees. Flowers are naturally negatively charged and bees are observed as positively charged, and when an interaction occurs, scientists used a special laser to obtain measurements of these vibrations, as this will cause a natural spark that will be generated from the hairs of bees.

This new study is published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

TagsBees, bumblebees, electric fields bees, bee hairs electric fields