November 1, 2009

Bees Extend Legs for Stability

Video clips reveal the strategy orchid bees use to maintain stability when flying in turbulent conditions.

From The November-December 2009 Issue

Amid turbulent conditions, orchid bees in flight prevent themselves from rolling by extending their rear legs.

Moving the mass in its legs aways from its body increases the orchid bee's resistance to rotation, in the same way figure skaters slow a fast spin by extending their arms and legs.

As windspeed and turbulence increase, an orchid bee homing in on a desirable scent is ejected from the airstream.

An orchid bee's use of its rear legs to maintain stability in turbulent conditions is especially clear in this slow-motion video.

All videos courtesy of Stacey Combes/The Combes Laboratory

Published in the November-December 2009 print issue under the headline “Orchid Bees In Flight,” in the section.

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