Bumblebees are capable of flying at very high elevations – higher than even Mount Everest – according to a new study.
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley, travelled to a mountain range in western China and collected six male alpine bumblebees of the species Bombus impetuosus .
Simulated elevationThe researchers placed the bees in clear, sealed boxes and experimentally adjusted the oxygen levels and air density in a simulated elevation while keeping temperature constant, said a press release from University of California.
All of the bees were capable of flying in conditions equivalent to 13,000 feet.
Some even made it past 30,000 feet – the height of the peak of Mount Everest, researcher said.
They found that the bees increased the angle at which they extended their wings with each beat, reaching closer to their heads and abdomens each time. — IANS
