Articles tagged with Bees
Researchers at Newcastle University discovered that bees' taste neurons fire intense signals for up to 10 seconds when they encounter a sweet substance. This prolonged activation allows the bee to remain feeding at the same sugar source, making it more efficient for the colony.
A total of 43 known cuckoo bees have been identified in North America, with 15 new species discovered by York University PhD Candidate Thomas Onuferko. The newly described species possess distinctive patterns and are difficult to distinguish from other bees.
A new study by Swansea University researcher Andrew Lucas reveals vital behaviors of hoverflies in plant pollination. The research helps identify the plants hoverflies visit and provides advice to landowners on species-rich grasslands.
A new study suggests that human changes to the landscape, such as monoculture farming and forestry, are affecting honeybees' long-term food supply. The diversity of bacteria associated with bee bread, a crucial food source for young bees, is lower in hives near agriculturally improved grasslands and coniferous forests.
The Macropis Cuckoo Bee, one of North America's rarest bees, has its known range greatly expanded after a new record was found in Alberta, Canada. Scientists have discussed the conservation status of this species and emphasized the importance of monitoring for populations to ensure its survival.
Researchers at UCR have isolated three new bacterial species from wild bees that may inhibit fungi growth in pollen provisions. These Lactobacillus strains could help preserve nectar and pollen for larvae, promoting bee health.
Researchers analyzed 8.3 million organizations and found that female leaders increased the number of women in top- and middle-management positions in public organizations.
Research shows that exposure to pesticides and herbicides can impair honey bees' sense of taste and ability to learn, affecting hive efficiency and pollination capabilities. Young worker bees are particularly vulnerable, even if they have not left the hive.
Research found droughts halve overall flower numbers, reducing food for bees and other pollinators in chalk grasslands.
A new pesticide, Sivanto, manufactured by Bayer AG, has been found to negatively impact honeybees' taste, learning, and memory capabilities. While proper use of the pesticide reduces negative effects, further research is needed to examine its influence on motor function, waggle dance, or orientation.
A study by the University of Sussex reveals that climate change is altering the timing of events in the interdependent relationship between a rare orchid species and the Buffish Mining-bee. The research shows that rising temperatures are causing an increase in years where the sequence of events needed for successful pollination does no...
A nationwide team of citizen scientists will convert lawns into native wildflower havens to attract native bees and other insects. The project aims to increase the bee's native habitat and educate the public about the importance of pollinators in food production.
A study by University of Sheffield researchers found that honeybee colonies follow the same laws as the human brain when making collective decisions, including Pieron's Law, Hick's Law, and Weber's Law. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of human behavior and cognition.
A team of researchers will create decision-support tools to help beekeepers and land managers maintain pollinator populations. The tools will assess landscape factors, predict bee health, and provide information on flowering plant species.
Researchers have discovered specific enzymes in honeybees and bumblebees that enable them to metabolize neonicotinoid insecticides safely. This knowledge can be used to design bee-friendly insecticides, potentially reducing the harm caused by these chemicals to pollinators.
A joint study by the University of Exeter and Bayer AG has identified key enzymes in honeybees and bumblebees responsible for their sensitivity to neonicotinoid pesticides. This breakthrough provides valuable tools to screen new pesticides early in development, potentially avoiding costly restrictions on their use.
A recent study reveals that differences in metabolic enzyme activity break down pesticide chemicals, explaining bee sensitivity. Researchers found specific enzymes like CYP9Q3 and CYP9Q4 responsible for tolerance to thiacloprid and imidacloprid, respectively.
Researchers discovered that the proteins in royal jelly, particularly MRJP1 and apisimin, create a fibre-like structure that makes it viscous enough to keep queen larvae in their cells. This property ensures the survival of bee colonies by preventing larvae from falling out and developing into queens.
Research reveals that royal jelly's acidity changes its consistency, enabling it to cling to the ceiling of queen cells and support the growth of future queens. This property is essential for the survival of honeybees, as larvae destined to become queens need a stable environment to develop.
Research suggests that taking a 'lazy lawn mower' approach by mowing every two weeks instead of weekly can encourage bee habitat in suburban lawns. This results in more lawn flowers blooming, which helps bees. The study found that lawns mowed every three weeks had the most lawn flowers and the highest diversity of 93 bee species.
A study by the USDA Forest Service found that mowing lawns less frequently can significantly improve pollinator habitat, increasing flower growth and diversity of bee species. This practice is estimated to benefit an estimated 40 million acres of lawn in the US, promoting native bee populations.
Scientists at the University of Manchester are creating micro-robots inspired by jumping spiders and flying bees to improve manufacturing efficiency. The goal is to deploy these robots in unknown environments for complex engineering tasks.
A new study found that US animal-related fatalities remained stable from 2008-2015, with most deaths caused by nonvenomous animals like farm animals and dogs. The majority of fatalities were preventable, highlighting the need for education and targeted public policy to reduce animal-related deaths.
Bees soar with web traffic algorithms, but ants and slime mold flop. Nature's design inspirations are valuable, but not always practical. Classic algorithms still outperform nature-inspired methods in static problems like the Traveling Salesman Problem.
A Rutgers University study confirms that an abundance of wild bees is essential for efficient pollination in agricultural settings. The research found that over half of the observed species were necessary for pollination at one or more farms, highlighting the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services.
Introduced 'alien' honeybees are competing with native bees for resources, posing a threat to the survival of plants that rely on specific pollinators. This is particularly concerning in arid environments where super-generalist honeybees visit up to 55% of available plant species.
Researchers found that sick bees living with the gut parasite Nosema ceranae preferred higher-quality pollen when given the option. This preference could influence which flowers are visited by bees, impacting both native and crop pollination.
Researchers developed an automated system to monitor honey bee interactions, revealing a network structure that facilitates fast information spread. The study found that the bees' social network exhibited a 'bursty' pattern similar to human networks, but with rapid information spreading.
Domesticated honeybees contribute to wild bee declines through resource competition and disease spread. Researchers recommend policies to limit managed honeybee impact, including hive size limits and controls on hives in protected areas.
A recent study published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology found that bigger honeybee colonies have quieter combs than smaller ones. Bees actively reduce vibrations by grasping the comb, possibly through their posture, which helps them communicate with each other.
Researchers discovered Asian elephants in Sri Lanka respond with alarm and retreat to bee sounds, similar to African counterparts. The study aims to develop effective community-based beehive fence deterrent systems to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect the endangered species.
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered how honeybees manage to visit flowers at the right time and communicate this information to other bees. The study found that a specific peptide called PDF plays a central role in regulating circadian clocks, transferring day-night information to brain areas that control complex ...
A new report synthesizes global data to identify honey bees as the world's most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems. They are recorded in 89% of pollination networks in their native range and 61% in introduced regions, contributing to 1 out of 8 interactions between non-agricultural plants and pollinators.
A new method predicts when sudden change occurs in complex systems like bee colonies, which could help prevent colony collapse disorder. The model uses dimension reduction to accurately predict tipping points and informs control strategies to delay or prevent their occurrence.
Honey bee researchers found that foragers prefer sugar syrup laced with the fungicide chlorothalonil over a control at low concentrations, but avoid it at higher doses. The unexpected finding highlights the complex relationship between honey bees and environmental toxins.
A large-scale study has found that residue levels in pollen and nectar from thiamethoxam-treated seeds do not harm bees, with no effect on colony survival. The research involved individual honey bees and 84 colonies, providing a robust threshold for assessing potential risk.
A new study by UC San Diego researchers reveals that combining pesticides and limited nutrient sources causes a synergistic effect on bee survival, increasing deaths by up to 50%. The scientists used honey bees as test subjects due to their role as agricultural pollinators and environmental bioindicators.
Researchers found that antibiotic-resistant genes in honey bee guts spread to all strains of bacteria, highlighting the risk of transmission to humans. The study suggests reducing or eliminating antibiotic use can help prevent the spread of resistant genes.
Researchers identified specific bacterial species in honey bee guts that break down flavonoids and trigger hormone production, impacting colony health. The study's findings could inform strategies to boost bee health and resilience.
Researchers tracked bumblebee flight paths and found they refined routes to reduce travel distance, providing insights into route optimization in logistics and robotics. The study's large dataset offers a unique understanding of how animals solve spatial problems.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London used harmonic radar technology to study how bees develop efficient routes. They found that experienced bees use a combination of visiting feeders in the same order and flying along habitual flight paths to reduce travel distance.
A comprehensive bee census led by Michigan State University scientists confirmed the discovery of a new species and revealed that Michigan has more than 420 species of bees, exceeding earlier estimates. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding wild bee populations and their benefits to crops and the environment.
A 530-million-year-old trilobite fossil contains the earliest known example of an eye, with a primitive form of compound eyes similar to those in modern animals. The study suggests that compound eyes have changed little over 500 million years.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered a key to designing more selective pesticides that target pests without killing beneficial insects like bees. By understanding the molecular differences between mammals and insects, they hope to create new chemicals that spare bees while effectively controlling agricultural pests.
Africanized honey bees, which are more docile than other so-called 'killer bees', retain most of their African heritage but have shifted genetic traits towards European honey bees. This rapid evolution likely occurred due to living on a densely populated island where humans eradicated aggressive bees, favoring the gentler counterparts.
A recent study by Cornell University researchers found that fungicides can harm bumblebees, particularly when used in combination with insecticides. Chlorothalonil, a general-use fungicide, has been linked to stunted colony growth and increased vulnerability to Nosema, a fatal gut infection.
A new study found that pesticides significantly reduce bumblebees' ability to collect pollen and perform complex behaviors like buzz pollination. Chronic pesticide exposure interferes with bees' vibrations, leading to reduced pollen collection over time.
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin discovered that tiny bees, no bigger than a grain of rice, promote long-distance pairings between trees. These small pollinators aid in preventing inbreeding among closely related plants, ensuring a thriving new generation of offspring.
Digger wasps have species-specific hydrocarbon profiles that vary according to their prey and brood-care strategy. Beetle-hunting digger wasps have more diversified profiles due to reduced need for prey preservation. The unique films are also used for defense against parasites.
Researchers found bees display unique biases in left- and right-handedness when flying through obstacles, impacting flight efficiency. This discovery could lead to strategies for steering drone aircraft fleets, optimizing safe and collision-free routes.
Researchers found that flower petals with nanoscale ridges on their surface produce a 'blue halo' effect, which helps bees locate flowers. The irregularities in these nanostructures appear to be harnessed by evolution to aid floral communication.
Researchers identified 'speed neurons' and 'direction neurons' in the bee brain that work together to create a memory for navigation. This ability is crucial for bees, as they rely on it to return to their hive after foraging trips.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a solution to control Asian hornets by luring males with synthesized sex pheromones, providing a simple and reliable way to monitor and potentially reduce populations. The study's findings demonstrate the key role of pheromones in long-distance attraction for these invasive insects.
A global sampling of honey found 75% contaminated with neonicotinoid pesticides, a key factor in the global decline of pollinators, particularly bees. The study's findings suggest that chronic exposure to these pesticides may have detrimental effects on bee populations.
Scientists discovered a network of neurons in bees' brains that integrates direction and distance changes, enabling them to return home. A detailed computer model was developed based on this research, which could lead to new algorithms for autonomous robots.
A study by North Carolina State University researchers found that climate change impacts bumble bees through changes in flowering seasons, not just direct effects. Longer flowering seasons may actually lead to fewer flowers available for bees, resulting in reduced bee abundance and population decline.
A new study by FSU researchers found that changing climate conditions lead to more days with poor flower availability, resulting in food shortages and population decline among bumble bees. This finding highlights the critical role of floral distribution throughout a season in determining bumble bee populations.
Researchers found that South Africa's oil-collecting Rediviva bee species have evolved long front legs to reach oil in snapdragons' twin spurs. The length of these spurs varies among species, and bees coat their legs with velvety hairs to soak up the oil.
Researchers found that stingless bees control worker reproduction through pheromones, allowing workers to care for the queen's offspring instead of their own. This adaptation creates a conflict between the queen and workers over reproductive interests.
A new study finds climate change will reduce coffee-growing areas in Latin America by up to 88% by 2050, mainly due to declining bee populations. However, the research also identifies regions where bee diversity is likely to increase, potentially boosting coffee productivity.