Hungry bumble bees make plants flower early by cutting holes in their leaves When bumble bee queens

Hungry bumble bees make plants flower early by cutting holes in their leaves

When bumble bee queens emerge from hibernation, they need to gather pollen and nectar to start their new colonies. If they wake up too soon, there may not be enough flowers in bloom. Now, researchers have discovered the bees have a way to order some fast food: They nibble holes in leaves, spurring plants to blossom weeks ahead of schedule.