Flower shape and size impact bees’ chances of catching gut parasites
Parasite transmission was lower when the insects landed on long, narrow flowers
![photo of a bumblebee on a coneflower](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/070122_rc_bee-parasites_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Bumblebees are more likely to contract a gut parasite when they land on coneflowers (pictured) and other short, wide flowers compared with long, narrow flowers like phlox.
Johan/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)