Flowers “talk” to bees about how much nectar they contain using electric fields, scientists have discovered. The finding explains bees’ ability to sense remotely which blossoms to land on, allowing them to forage more efficiently.

Flowers and bees are one of nature’s classic examples of symbiosis, where two species co-evolve, adapting in ways that are mutually beneficial. This extends to a sophisticated two-way communication, scientists have shown.

Professor Daniel Robert, of the University of Bristol and senior author of the study, said: “They are talking to each other and continually exchanging information. The last thing a flower wants is to attract a bee and then fail to provide nectar — a lesson in honest advertising since bees are good learners and would soon lose interest