Following extensive research, Dr. David Pritchard, of the University of Stirling’s Natural Sciences Department found that bees buzz in different vibration patterns dependent on the task that needs to be completed. For example, the buzz used to pollinate flowers is much more powerful (up to 50G – 10 times more than a fighter pilot experiences) than the buzz used in a defensive or flight situation. Using a strong buzz some bees shake pollen off of the flower and onto their body to assist in the pollination process further.
Key Takeaways:
- Researchers believe that bees use specific types of buzzing vibrations for different tasks.
- Bees flap their wings during flight buzzing, but not during defensive buzzing.
- Examining the details of flower buzzing can shed light on why honeybees don’t buzz flowers.
“During the experiment, bees foraged on a buzz-pollinated flower, performed a tethered flight, or were encouraged to perform a defensive buzz through a gentle stroke of their body.”
Read more: https://phys.org/news/2020-07-bees-powerful-pollination-defense-flight.html
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