Weak anthropogenic electric fields affect honeybee foraging

Aerial electroreception, the detection of airborne electric fields (E-fields), is an emerging sensory system in arthropods, including bees, which can use floral E-fields as foraging cues. However, the influence of anthropogenic E-fields on these interactions remains underexplored. Through field experiments in urban meadows, we demonstrate that weak anthropogenic E-fields, including alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) fields, significantly alter honeybee floral landing behaviors. AC and positive DC fields reduced landings by 71% and 53%, respectively, whereas negative DC fields had no statistically significant impact. Measurements of E-fields near high-voltage transmission lines revealed persistent field strengths comparable to those used experimentally, spanning tens of meters at heights relevant for bee foraging. These findings underscore the potential for anthropogenic E-fields to affect and potentially disrupt plant-pollinator interactions, threatening pollination efficiency, a cornerstone of agriculture and biodiversity. Our study highlights the need for advancing research on the ecological impacts of electric pollution.