Bees struggle to smell flowers when air pollutants combine

Pollinating insects such as bees and moths find it harder to locate flowers when air pollution is high. Research from the University of Reading reviewed 22 studies and found that ozone and nitrogen oxides break down or change the scents that flowers emit. This chemical alteration reduces the insects’ ability to detect and follow floral odors.

Bees, moths and other pollinating insects have a harder time smelling flowers in polluted air, according to research led by the University of Reading. Scientists analyzed 22 experimental studies on how the air pollutants ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx) affect pollinators. Both pollutants make it harder for pollinators to find flowers by breaking down or altering the scents that flowers give off.

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