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Bees Communicate With Electric Fields

Posted by samzenpus on from the buzz-of-buzzing dept.

sciencehabit writes "The electric fields that build up on honey bees as they fly, flutter their wings, or rub body parts together may allow the insects to talk to each other, a new study suggests. Tests show that the electric fields, which can be quite strong, deflect the bees' antennae, which, in turn, provide signals to the brain through specialized organs at their bases. Antenna deflections induced by an electrically charged honey bee wing are about 10 times the size of those that would be caused by airflow from the wing fluttering at the same distance—a sign that electrical fields could be an important signal."

5 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Unexplained Collapses??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So, this may suggest that our ever increasing use of EM may be responsible for colony collapse disorders.

    1. Re:Unexplained Collapses??? by Darinbob · · Score: 5, Informative

      Unexplained? We've had several stories about bees and pesticides, including just today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21958547.
      It's only unexplained if you think there's something more sinister at work than common poison.

    2. Re:Unexplained Collapses??? by Warma · · Score: 4, Informative

      Everything suggests that EM hypersensitivity does not exist. Not one person suffering from it has been able to prove that he could, directly or indirectly, sense an electric or magnetic field of any magnitude.

      If you have the supernatural ability you state to possess, please demonstrate it for science. This will benefit society greatly.

  2. Waggle dance by Spottywot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It occurred to me initially, that if the effect is only really noticeable after flight then the only information that they could usefully communicate by this method would be how recently they had completed a flight. It then occurred to me that bees perform a waggle dance which is believed to instruct other bees in the hive where to find food sources. The electrostatic effect on the antenna would be most effective at this time, and also seems to solve one of my issues with the waggle dance theory, which is that it seems most effective as a visual form of communication when viewed from above, which of course the bees do not do.The electrostatic explanation would work, as the dance could manipulate the antennea in the manner of an operator inputting directions using a joystick.

    --
    In a cybernetic fit of rage she pissed off to another age...
  3. Re:I am shocked by msauve · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Bees Communicate With Electric Fields"

    So, what do the electric fields have to say? Should we be welcoming our electric field overlords?

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law