Researchers have discovered that flowers possess an intriguing ability to detect the presence of bumblebees and respond by emitting a burst of fragrance to enhance their appeal to these insects. This finding sheds light on the impact of bumblebees’ electrical charges, which were known to aid in pollen transportation.
Prior to this study, the specific effects of these tiny sparks on plants remained unknown. Dr. Clara Montgomery of the University of Bristol conducted the research and observed that the flowers release a greater amount of perfume immediately after contact with the bumblebees. She explains, “Flowers have a limited supply of these scents, so it’s logical that they only release them when their pollinators are present.”
Dr. Montgomery further elaborates, “Essentially, it is only worth advertising when you know you have an audience. Other cues that flowers might rely on, such as daylight and temperature, can be unreliable due to factors like wind or rain, which could potentially reduce pollinator activity. Therefore, increasing the chances of attracting only pollinators becomes crucial.”
Notably, the electrical charge carried by a bumblebee measures just 120 picoCoulombs (pC). In the experiments, it took approximately 600 picoCoulombs (equivalent to five visits) for a violet petunia to respond by emitting an additional quantity of its precious scent.
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