Electric signals from power lines are said to be preventing bees from landing on nearby flowers, raising concerns that this "electric pollution" disrupts insect behavior. This is according to a new study from researchers at the University of Bristol in the UK, published on May 19 in the journal iScience.
Both honeybees and bumblebees can detect airborne electric fields—natural or man-made—using their hairs and antennae. They use these signals to communicate and find nectar-rich flowers. However, the full impact of human-made electricity on these natural behaviors remains largely unknown.
Bees play a vital role far beyond just visiting flowers. As the world’s most populous and effective pollinators, they are responsible for pollinating two thirds of the global food supply. Yet factors like climate change and widespread pesticide use have caused bee populations to decline rapidly, threatening ecosystems and food security worldwide.
Want to know more about bees? In this gallery, check out some facts that make clear why bees are so special.