Magnets, magnetic field fluctuations and geomagnetic disturbances impair the homing ability of honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Do magnets harm bees?

They found that the material can be magnetized using a strong permanent magnet and that magnetizing the abdomen of a live honey bee disrupts its ability to navigate using local magnetic fields.

Do magnets affect insects?

Experimental evidence for magnetic field sensitivity has been reported in insects belonging to various orders, including Isoptera (termites), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (ants and bees), and Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies).