A groundbreaking study reveals that tiny hummingbird flower mites use electricity to hitch rides on hummingbirds, enabling them to travel between flowers. These mites, which spend their lives feeding on pollen and nectar, cannot fly or hop like hummingbirds, so how they move from flower to flower has long been a mystery.
New research by biologists at the University of Connecticut, the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica, and the University of Bristol suggests that these mites use electroreception—the ability to sense electric fields—to communicate with their bird companions. By attaching electrodes to the birds’ wings or body, the researchers tested whether the mites could detect the electric fields produced by hummingbirds during flight.
The findings showed that the mites respond only to electric fields similar to those generated by hummingbirds. They also discovered that the mites have sensory hairs on their legs, much like spiders used for electroreception, which helps them detect these fields. Once onboard, the mites attach themselves to the bird’s body and remain hidden in its nostrils to avoid being blown off as it flies.
The researchers further explained how the mites glide through the air: by moving closer to the hummingbird, they create a strong electric field that pulls them onto the bird’s body via electrostatic force. Once onboard, they stay hidden inside until the bird stops flying and feed nearby flowers.
This study provides new insights into the fascinating world of insect biology and highlights the intricate ways these tiny creatures navigate their environments. The research was conducted in close collaboration with hummingbirds, further emphasizing our reliance on these remarkable birds as messengers for their mite friends.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-hummingbird-mites-electroreception-hitch-hummingbirds.html