Bee's Air Control

Some bees have a trick that helps them zip quickly from flower to flower. Stacey Combes, a scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, recently discovered that the secret lies in the bees' legs.

As some bees begin to fly forward, they dangle their hind legs below their bodies, says Combes. The wind rushing toward the bee pushes against the dangling legs. This push helps the bee tilt its body downward. With its body tilted, the bee can produce lift, or the same force that moves a kite in the sky. This lift helps the fuzzy insect flap its way forward to the next flower.

Did You Know?
Bees can beat their wings 11,000 times in just one minute! These insects, however, are not fast fliers compared to other insects. A bee's average flight speed is 24 kilometers (15 miles) per hour.