There is a connection between flowers or plants and bees. They have a symbolic relationship that we can learn from – give and take. They are dependent on each other, so they need one another for a few reasons. The flowers need bees so they can have assistance in pollination. On the other hand, the bees need flower so they are fed. In other words, both need each other for reproduction and survival.
How Plants and Bees Communicate?
Scientists believe and have proven that plants and bees are able to communicate with each other through electric signals. Through electric fields, the bees can easily detect if the flowers have been the ones they formerly visited, and if the pollen levels are low or high. As science is concerned, plants have electrostatic force, which is responsible in triggering bees to sense, particular the hair that starts to bristle.
This kind of electric field provides a much better communication between bees and flowers. Naturally, flowers have bright colors, amazing patterns, and attractive scents. These are all elements that make invite pollinators, or bees. Somehow, they give bees information regarding the status of their pollen and nectar reserves.
Bees are technically charged positively for up to 200 volts while they fly and buzz in the air around plants. They get additional energy through plants, since the latter is able to emit any weak or low negatively charged electric fields.
How Bees are Fed by Flowers
The nectar on flowers is the excellent source of carbohydrates to bees. When the nectar is pulled out from the flower, it is sent to the hive, wherein it is regurgitated, then placed into the cells of the honeycomb.
The pollen, which contains amino acids, is also taken from the flowers by bees. How bees get them is through the use of their bodies’ hair that is rubbed on the male anthers of the flower. Then, the pollen is transferred into the pollen sack, which is located on the legs of the bees. The substance produced by pollen is used to the development of their larvae.
How Pollination and Fertilization Work
Another activity between plants or flowers and bees is pollination. This is entirely an accident on the part of bees. The pollen collected by bees is not always stored in the hive. When bees visit flowers, there is a tendency that pollen is rubbed off onto the pistil, which is the female portion, of another flower. This can happen a lot of times especially if bees go to a lot of flowers. Thus, pollination is surely going to happen more often.
Fertilization also takes place when the pollen grains are brushed onto the flower’s pistil. This grain usually moves down to the ovary of the flower. As a result, the ovules situated in the ovary turn into seeds, and become fertilized.
The busiest periods of bees and plants are during spring and summer. Spring is known to be the usual time for flowers to bloom, and this is the same period in which bees get active most of the time. As what you have learned, both seasons are where electric fields are mostly transferred from flowers to bees, and vice versa.
