Traffic fumes render the scent of flowers barely recognisable to honeybees and could have a serious impact on their ability to find food, new research has found.
Scientists discovered that reactive pollutants in diesel destroyed key chemicals in the odour of oilseed flowers making them smell different to the bees.
"Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and an exceptional ability to learn and memorise new odours," said Tracey Newman, a neuroscientist at the University of Southampton. "The [effect of diesel fumes on flower scent] could have serious detrimental effects on the number of honeybee colonies and pollination activity."
The Guardian: Traffic fumes make honeybees unable to recognise flower scent, study shows
Comments