Dead Honey Bees Deter Visits to Milkweed Flowers
Researchers at the University of California, Davis ran a field experiment with milkweed flowers that had dead honey bees stuck to them. Flower visits dropped 37 percent, while ant numbers rose 51 percent. The study suggests honey bees may avoid these flowers, possibly out of fear.
Context
Context: Milkweed is a flowering plant that supports pollinators and is a food source for monarch butterflies. Honey bees and other pollinators help crops and wild plants produce fruit and seeds, so changes in their visits matter for ecosystems.
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