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Sonicate

Sonicate, in pollination, is a bee that vibrates its wing muscles while perched on a flower, to release pollen. A few flowers such as tomatoes and blueberries have small grained, smooth pollen that is held inside the anther and released through pores, rather than being on the surface of the anther, as are most pollens. These pollens can be shaken loose by wind or human shaking the plant, but are much more efficiently released by the resonant vibration of a sonicating bee. This is also known as buzz pollination. Bumble bees are most efficient at buzz pollination.

Photos and more complete explanation at the Tucson USDA bee lab: Why is that bee giving me the "raspberry?" [1]



07-14-2008 23:18:10
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