Bees Struggle to Smell Flowers when Air Pollutants Combine

Pollinators face growing threat from air pollution

Air pollution could be putting pollinators at risk by disrupting their ability to find flowers, researchers have warned. A new review of research has found that common air pollutants can significantly affect insects including bees, butterflies and other pollinators, potentially threatening the plants and crops that depend on them. Researchers, led by the University of Reading, examined 22 studies containing 87 measurements of pollinator performa…

Bees struggle to smell flowers when air pollutants combine

Bees, moths and other pollinating insects have a harder time smelling flowers in polluted air, according to research led by the University of Reading. Scientists analyzed 22 experimental studies on how the air pollutants ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx) affect pollinators. Both pollutants make it harder for pollinators to find flowers by breaking down or altering the scents that flowers give off.

Air pollution makes it harder for pollinators to find flowers

Air pollution can scramble the floral scents bees, moths and other pollinators rely on to find food, cutting their ability to locate flowers by nearly half.