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<DIV>Thanks to Mary Clock Rust.</DIV>
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From: Clock-Rust.Mary@epa.gov<BR>To: LDA@pollinator.org<BR>Sent: 2/25/2013
6:39:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time<BR>Subj: Electric Bees<BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><o:p></o:p> </DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><A title=http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers href="http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers">http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers</A>
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.25pt; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 11.25pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 24pt" lang=EN>Honey, It's Electric: Bees Sense Charge On
Flowers<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=byline><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'" lang=EN>by Adam
Cole<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=date10><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #666666; FONT-SIZE: 9pt" lang=EN>February 22, 2013</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=time><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #666666; FONT-SIZE: 9pt" lang=EN> 3:27 AM</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #666666; FONT-SIZE: 9pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=date><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>February 22, 2013<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H3 style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222" lang=EN><A title="javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(172611866, 172674078, null, NPR.Player.Action.PLAY_NOW, NPR.Player.Type.STORY, '0')" href="javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(172611866,%20172674078,%20null,%20NPR.Player.Action.PLAY_NOW,%20NPR.Player.Type.STORY,%20'0')">Listen
to the Story</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=byline><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'" lang=EN><A title=http://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/ href="http://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #6d8ac4; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Morning
Edition</SPAN></B></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=total><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>3 min 23 sec</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL type=disc>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title="javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(172611866, 172674078, null, NPR.Player.Action.ADD_TO_PLAYLIST, NPR.Player.Type.STORY, '0')" href="javascript:NPR.Player.openPlayer(172611866,%20172674078,%20null,%20NPR.Player.Action.ADD_TO_PLAYLIST,%20NPR.Player.Type.STORY,%20'0')">Playlist</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2013/02/20130222_me_06.mp3?dl=1 href="http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2013/02/20130222_me_06.mp3?dl=1">Download</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=javascript:; href="javascript:;">Transcript</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Flowers are nature's ad men. They'll do anything to attract the
attention of the pollinators that help them reproduce. That means spending
precious energy on bright pigments, enticing fragrances and dazzling
patterns.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Now, scientists have found another element that contributes to
flowers' brand: their distinct electric field.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H3 style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222" lang=EN>Bumblebee Vision<o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=conintrotext><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Flowers taylor their displays toward the sensory capabilities of their
pollinators. Bees can see visible and ultraviolet light, they have precise
olfactory receptors, and now we know they can also detect electric
fields.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL id=electric-tabs type=disc>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Visible<o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Ultraviolet<o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Fragrance<o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; COLOR: #222222; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Electric<o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1361815525@aol.com" border=0 alt="Visible spectrum. Certain bright colors and petal shapes attract certain pollinators." width=1120 height=1120 DATASIZE="145160" ID="MA1.1361815525" ></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Visible spectrum.</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> Certain bright colors and petal shapes attract certain
pollinators.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=rightsnotice><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography href="http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography">Kevin
Collins</A></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA2.1361815525@aol.com" border=0 alt="Ultraviolet (false color). Bees and other pollinators can see the ultraviolet end of the spectrum. They are guided by patterns on flowers that are invisible to humans." width=1120 height=1120 DATASIZE="92450" ID="MA2.1361815525" ></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers href="http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers">Enlarge
image</A> <A title=http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers href="http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers">i</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Ultraviolet (false color).</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> Bees and other pollinators can see the ultraviolet end of the
spectrum. They are guided by patterns on flowers that are invisible to
humans.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=rightsnotice><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography href="http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography">Kevin
Collins</A></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA3.1361815525@aol.com" border=0 alt="Ultraviolet (false color). Bees and other pollinators can see the ultraviolet end of the spectrum. They are guided by patterns on flowers that are invisible to humans." width=32 height=32 DATASIZE="174" ID="MA3.1361815525" ><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=caption><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Ultraviolet (false color).</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> Bees and other pollinators can see the ultraviolet end of the
spectrum. They are guided by patterns on flowers that are invisible to
humans.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=rightsnotice><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><A title=http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography href="http://www.facebook.com/KevinCollinsPhotography">Kevin
Collins</A></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA4.1361815525@aol.com" border=0 alt="Fragrance plume (artist's depiction). Bees follow specific odors to locate flowers and, once they arrive, use scent maps to move toward the center of the flower. Fragrance that clings to a bee provides information for other bees back at the hive." width=1120 height=1120 DATASIZE="45736" ID="MA4.1361815525" ></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Fragrance plume (artist's depiction).</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> Bees follow specific odors to locate flowers and, once they arrive,
use scent maps to move toward the center of the flower. Fragrance that clings
to a bee provides information for other bees back at the
hive.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=credit><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Adam Cole</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=creditwrap4><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>/</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=rightsnotice><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>NPR</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt"><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA5.1361815525@aol.com" border=0 alt="Electric field (artist's depiction). Flowers have a weak negative electric charge relative to the air around them. Different flowers have different electric fields, often with charge concentrated at the tips of the petals." width=1120 height=1120 DATASIZE="76530" ID="MA5.1361815525" ></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Electric field (artist's depiction).</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> Flowers have a weak negative electric charge relative to the air
around them. Different flowers have different electric fields, often with
charge concentrated at the tips of the petals.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=credit><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Adam Cole</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=creditwrap4><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>/</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN class=rightsnotice><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>NPR</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Anne Leonard, who studies bees at the University of Nevada, says our
understanding of pollinator-flower communication has been expanding for
decades.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"Flowers do a lot of things you might not expect," Leonard says. "We
observe they have these distinct bright, beautiful colors, patterns,
scents."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>But we don't often stop to consider that this incredible display is
all an attempt to attract bees and other pollinators. These displays don't
just consist of things humans notice. There are also patterns in the
ultraviolet spectrum, petal temperatures and textures and
shapes.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"We've found that by producing these combinations of sensory stimuli,
the plant basically makes its flowers easier for the bee to learn and
remember," Leonard says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>That means the bee can forage more efficiently, and flowers are more
likely to be pollinated.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"This is a magnificent interaction where you have an animal and a
plant, and they both want this to go as well as possible," says Gregory Sutton
of the University of Bristol in the U.K. "The flowers are trying to make
themselves look as different as possible. This is to establish the flower's
brand."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>Sutton and a team of researchers led by Daniel Robert have just
uncovered a whole new layer to flower brands.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"We found that flowers can use electric fields," Sutton
says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>That's right — electric fields. It turns out flowers have a slight
negative charge relative to the air around them. Bumblebees have a charge,
too.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"When bees are flying through the air, just the friction of the air
and the friction of the body parts on one another causes the bee to become
positively charged," Sutton says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>It's like shuffling across a carpet in wool socks. When a positively
charged bee lands on a flower, the negatively charged pollen grains naturally
stick to it. The Bristol team wondered if bees were aware of this
electrostatic interaction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>So, they designed an experiment — one described in this week's <A title=http://www.sciencemag.org/ href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</A>
magazine. The researchers built a small arena full of fake flowers. Each
flower was simple — a stalk with a small steel dish at the top. Half of the
"flowers" held delicious sugar water. The other half held quinine, a substance
that bees find bitter and disgusting.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>When bumblebees explored this false flower patch, they moved around
randomly. They chose to land on sweet flowers just about as often as bitter
flowers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>But when the sweet flowers carried a small charge, the bees learned
pretty quickly to choose the charged flowers. And when the electric charge was
removed? They went back to their random foraging.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>The bees had recognized the electric field, and had learned to use it
to find sweet flowers. But that's not all.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>"In the seconds just before the bee lands, there is electrical
activity in the plant," Sutton says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; COLOR: #222222; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt" lang=EN>The plant's electric field is changed by the proximity of that
positively charged bee. And once the bee leaves, the field stays changed for
100 seconds or so. That's long enough for the altered field to serve as a
warning for the next bee that buzzes by. She won't stop to investigate a
flower that's already been visited.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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