buzzpollination

Buzz pollination, also known as sonication or vibrational pollination, is a specialized foraging technique used by certain bees to collect pollen. This method is essential for the reproduction of many plant species, particularly those in the Solanaceae family (like tomatoes and blueberries) and Fabaceae family (like lupines and alfalfa). Unlike most bees that simply brush pollen off the anthers, buzz-pollinating bees must vibrate their flight muscles at a high frequency, causing the anthers to release pollen.

The process involves the bee attaching its mandibles to the anther and then rapidly contracting its thoracic muscles. This vibration, which can be around 200-300 times per second, creates an aerodynamic effect that expels pollen from the anther pores, similar to how a salt shaker works. The released pollen then adheres to the bee's body. While the bee is buzzing, it often holds its legs together, forming a pollen basket, or corbicula, where the loosened pollen accumulates.

Not all bees are capable of buzz pollination. It is primarily performed by certain species within the genera *Bombus* (bumblebees), *Xylocopa* (carpenter bees), and some solitary bees. Plants that rely on buzz pollination have evolved specific anther structures, often tubular or poricidal, to facilitate this specialized pollen release. Without buzz pollinators, these plants would have significantly reduced seed and fruit production.