High-speed headbanging bees | RMIT University

In an effort that would put heavy metal fans to shame, researchers have for the first time captured Australian bees’ unique approach to pollination - headbanging flowers up to 350 times a second. The joint RMIT University, University of Adelaide, Harvard University and University of California, Davis, study compared the pollination techniques of Australian native blue banded bees with North American bumblebees, which are commonly used overseas to commercially pollinate tomato plants. The researchers revealed the Aussie bees’ technique causes vibrations that release pollen into the air similar to the motion of a salt and pepper, helping pollinate the flower, as this amazing slow motion video by Callin Switzer (Harvard) shows. Find out more: