ANIMALS
Bumblebees bite plants to help them bloom
Words by Nicoletta Lanese
When their pollen supply runs short, bumblebees bore tiny semicircle- shaped holes in the leaves of flowering plants, causing blooms to appear weeks ahead of schedule. Bee-bitten plants bear flowers about two weeks to a month sooner than untouched plants, according to a new study. Researchers attempted to recreate these bee-bite patterns using metal forceps and a razor, but even then the damage inflicted by bees boosted flower production more effectively than the scientists could; bee-bitten plants bloomed eight to 25 days before the artificially damaged ones did, depending on the plant species.