A Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences-published research has unveiled that bumblebees fly differently according to load they are carrying. If their load is light then they can travel fast, but when they are stocked up on pollen then their speed is slow.

The research is considered first one to see how nectar and pollen affect the dynamics of flight in bumblebees. Bumblebees are blessed when it comes to flight, but researchers have not conducted study on how their flying changes when they carry pollen or nectar on their body.

Researchers said that bumbles can carry more than 50% of their body mass in pollen and almost their entire body mass in nectar. Nectar is stored in bees’ abdomen, but pollen is attached to their legs when they fly.

The researchers conducted an experiment in which 14 bees were placed in a wind tunnel having a robotic flower. Main aim of conducting the experiment was to assess bees’ flight performance under different conditions.

During the experiment, the researchers measured the bees’ speed, acceleration and position within the tunnel overtime. The researchers stated that the bees when were loaded with pollen on their legs and abdomen full with nectar, they were better stabled in turbulent windy conditions. In contrast, bees were able to maneuver more rapidly in a steady breeze.