* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    What Are Our Predictions for Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Based on What She’s Told Us So Far? – yahoo.com

    Uncover the Hidden Surprises in Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ – Can You Decode Her Clues?

    Bama Dining Serving Up New Food, Entertainment – UA News Center

    Bama Dining Launches Thrilling New Food and Entertainment Experiences

    The latest on Williams-Brice Stadium renovations, entertainment district – On3

    Discover the Thrilling New Upgrades Coming to Williams-Brice Stadium and Its Vibrant Entertainment District!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Alcorn State awarded grant to boost STEM with VR technology – WJTV

    Alcorn State Secures Grant to Transform STEM Education Through Cutting-Edge VR Technology

    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Denver man receives pacemaker using new technology – CBS News

    Denver Man’s Life Transformed by Revolutionary Pacemaker Technology

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    YSU to celebrate launch of new radiology technology program – WKBN.com

    YSU Launches Exciting New Radiology Technology Program Celebration

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    What Are Our Predictions for Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Based on What She’s Told Us So Far? – yahoo.com

    Uncover the Hidden Surprises in Taylor Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ – Can You Decode Her Clues?

    Bama Dining Serving Up New Food, Entertainment – UA News Center

    Bama Dining Launches Thrilling New Food and Entertainment Experiences

    The latest on Williams-Brice Stadium renovations, entertainment district – On3

    Discover the Thrilling New Upgrades Coming to Williams-Brice Stadium and Its Vibrant Entertainment District!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Alcorn State awarded grant to boost STEM with VR technology – WJTV

    Alcorn State Secures Grant to Transform STEM Education Through Cutting-Edge VR Technology

    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Denver man receives pacemaker using new technology – CBS News

    Denver Man’s Life Transformed by Revolutionary Pacemaker Technology

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    Morgan County Rescue Squad is using new technology to recover people missing in the water faster – WAFF

    YSU to celebrate launch of new radiology technology program – WKBN.com

    YSU Launches Exciting New Radiology Technology Program Celebration

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Butterflies and moths suck up pollen with static electricity

July 24, 2024
in Science
Butterflies and moths suck up pollen with static electricity
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

a peacock butterfly on a pink plant. its wings are primarily red, with black, yellow, and blue circles

Peacock butterflies are found across Europe and in temperate regions of Asia. Their wingspans can reach up to 2.5 inches wide.
Sam England

While bees get most of the pollination hype, butterflies and moths are some of our planet’s power pollinators. While in flight, they collect so much static electricity that pollen grains from flowers are pulled up without the insects even touching the plants. The pollen can travel in air gaps across several millimeters or centimeters this way and using static electricity this way also potentially increases their efficiency and effectiveness as pollinators. The findings are described in a study published July 23 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.

The team from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom also observed that the amount of static electricity carried by moths and butterflies varies depending on the species. These fluctuations correlate with differences in their ecology, including whether or not they are from a tropical habitat, visit flowers, or if they are day or night fliers. According to the team, this is the first evidence to suggest that the amount of static electricity an animal accumulates is an adaptive trait and that evolution can act upon it via natural selection.

[Related: A swarm of honeybees can have the same electrical charge as a storm cloud.]

“We already knew that many species of animal[s] accumulate static electricity as they fly, most likely through friction with the air,” study co-author and University of Bristol biologist Sam England said in a statement. “There had also been suggestions that this static electricity might improve the ability of flower-visiting animals, like bees and hummingbirds, to pollinate, by attracting pollen using electrostatic attraction.”

What wasn’t known was whether this static trick applied to a wider array of equally important pollinators, namely moths and butterflies. The study set out to test this and see if the insects also accumulate charge and whether the charge is enough to attract the pollen up from flowers and onto their bodies. 

In the study, the team looked at 269 butterflies and moths across 11 different species. The insects were native to five different continents and lived in various ecological niches. This helped the researchers compare between various environments to see if and what ecological factors correlated with the amount of charge present in the species, to see if static charging is a trait that evolution can act upon. They found that the influence of static electricity in pollination may actually be very powerful and widespread in the animal kingdom. 

a pink and brown hawkmoth on a green plantA hawkmoth, which are some of the largest moths in the world. CREDIT: Sam England.

“By establishing electrostatic charging as a trait upon which evolution can act, it opens up a great deal of questions about how and why natural selection might lead to animals benefiting or suffering from the amount of static electricity that they accumulate,” said England.

In the future, this type of research could pave the way for technologists to artificially increase electrostatic charges as a way to improve pollination rates in both agricultural and natural settings. 

“We’ve discovered that butterflies and moths accumulate so much static electricity when flying, that pollen is literally pulled through the air towards them as they approach a flower,” said England. “This means that they don’t even need to touch flowers in order to pollinate them, making them very good at their jobs as pollinators, and highlighting just how important they might be to the functioning of our flowery ecosystems.”

[Related: Ant gets bee-slapped, and other strange bug moments.]

In future studies, the team would like to study more animal species to see how much static electricity they accumulate compared to moths and butterflies, and see if there are any correlations with their lifestyle and ecology.

“Then we can really begin to understand how evolution and static electricity interact!” said England. 

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Popular Science – https://www.popsci.com/science/butterfly-moth-static-eletricity-pollination/

Tags: butterflies'mothsscience
Previous Post

The best waterproof speakers in 2024

Next Post

Neanderthals ate birds. But how?

Putin wants to attend 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. “very badly,” Trump says – Axios

Putin Eager to Attend 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Says Trump

August 23, 2025
How the semiconductor boom and ASU are transforming Arizona’s economy – ASU News

How the semiconductor boom and ASU are transforming Arizona’s economy – ASU News

August 23, 2025
From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

August 23, 2025
Luther College to host discussion exploring links between soil and food health – Luther College

Luther College to host discussion exploring links between soil and food health – Luther College

August 23, 2025
OPINION | WOODY BASSETT: Can the nation do better in its politics? Can the Democrats? – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

OPINION | WOODY BASSETT: Can the nation do better in its politics? Can the Democrats? – Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

August 23, 2025
Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet – Living on Earth

Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet

August 23, 2025
Toyota Friday Night Rivals kicks off season with Elizabethton at Science Hill – WCYB

Toyota Friday Night Rivals Ignite the Season with Elizabethton vs. Science Hill Showdown

August 23, 2025
Star Trek as Refuge for the Science-Minded – The Provincetown Independent

How Star Trek Ignites Passion and Empowers the Science-Minded

August 23, 2025
Refresh your wardrobe at these 11 QTS award-winning fashion and lifestyle stores – Time Out Worldwide

Transform Your Look with These 11 Must-Visit Fashion and Lifestyle Stores

August 23, 2025
Alcorn State awarded grant to boost STEM with VR technology – WJTV

Alcorn State Secures Grant to Transform STEM Education Through Cutting-Edge VR Technology

August 23, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (785)
  • Economy (806)
  • Entertainment (21,685)
  • General (16,624)
  • Health (9,846)
  • Lifestyle (818)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (807)
  • Politics (815)
  • Science (16,018)
  • Sports (21,304)
  • Technology (15,786)
  • World (787)

Recent News

Putin wants to attend 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. “very badly,” Trump says – Axios

Putin Eager to Attend 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Says Trump

August 23, 2025
How the semiconductor boom and ASU are transforming Arizona’s economy – ASU News

How the semiconductor boom and ASU are transforming Arizona’s economy – ASU News

August 23, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version