Butterflies Use Static Electricity for Efficient Pollination

New research reveals butterflies and moths attract pollen without contact, enhancing their role as key pollinators.

Butterflies and moths generate static electricity while flying, pulling pollen from flowers across air gaps.
The amount of static electricity varies by species, influenced by their ecological niches and behaviors.
This is the first evidence showing static electricity as an adaptive trait influenced by natural selection.
The findings suggest potential applications in agriculture to improve pollination efficiency.
Researchers plan to study more species to understand the broader ecological and evolutionary impacts.