Hummingbird flower mites are tiny hitchhikers with an electrifying secret. These minuscule arachnids have developed a remarkable survival strategy.
A new study reveals that the mites use static electricity generated by their hummingbird chauffeurs to leap from one flower to another.
The remarkable relationship between the mites and hummingbirds has puzzled researchers for years.
In particular, scientists have questioned what determines the moment that the mites choose to hop onto or off of a hummingbird.
This is a crucial part of the mites’ survival, as it enables them to transition from flower to flower for sustenance and reproduction.
Tiny mites seem capable of relying on the power of static cling to hop into hummingbird nostrils and move between flowers.