Bumblebees are capable of lifting very heavy loads by changing the flight mode so as to make transport less tiring
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himI bumblebees are pollinating insects known for their ability to lift heavy loads. A bumblebee is in fact capable of carrying incredible quantities of nectar, which can almost equal its weight.
Two University of California researchers, Susan Gagliardi and Stacey Combes, set out to find out how bumblebees lift such heavy weights.
“They can carry 60, 70 or 80 percent of their body weight in flight, that would be a huge load for us. We were curious to see how they do it and how much it costs them to bring food and supplies to the hive, ”explained Gagliardi.
The two researchers then observed the behavior of the bumblebees in the laboratory, filming the flying insects in a camera that measures energy expenditure and then analyzing the videos and data on energy consumption.
Gagliardi and Combes expected bumblebees to expend more energy when they lift heavy loads but, surprisingly, they found that bumblebees consume less energy when heavily laden of nectar. It is as if they are entering some sort of energy saving mode, a skill hitherto unknown.
Observing the insects closely, the researchers noticed a change in the movements of the wings in relation to the weight carried.
Bumblebees can in fact increase the range of movement and the distance between the wings, rotate the wings differently and increase or decrease the wing flapping frequency based on the amount of nectar they have to carry.
When they are partially charged, they increase the heartbeat rate consuming more energy, ma if the weight to be transported increasesa, modify the way they fly, reducing the frequency of the beats. This allows the bumblebees to produce much more strength while spending less energy.
If bumblebees can decide to fly with less effort, why don't they always opt for this flight mode?
According to the researchers it is not entirely clear, but it may be that a higher frequency of the flapping of the wings has benefits in terms of performancei, for example in maintaining stability even in windy conditions or in avoiding obstacles.
Sources of reference: University of California / Science Advances
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