Articles tagged with Bees
A study found that multiple pesticides within colonies closely correlate with colony death, including some 'bee-safe' fungicides. The researchers assessed 91 colonies and found that the number of different compounds was highly predictive of colony death.
A new study from UMass Amherst finds that untreated lawns provide a rich diversity of flowers offering nectar and pollen to bees, boosting their populations. Researchers discovered 111 native bee species on lawns in suburban Springfield, Massachusetts.
Researchers found that Giant Ceropegia flowers mimic the scent of honeybees under attack to fool freeloading flies into pollinating them. The study reveals a complex reproductive strategy where plants use alarm pheromones to lure in insects.
Scientists found that queen bees infected with deformed wing virus can transmit the disease through natural mating, leading to colony collapse. The study suggests that a significant portion of failed bee colonies is due to queen failure, highlighting the importance of managing queen health.
Researchers found bumblebees can solve string-pulling task through social learning, with 60% of untrained bees solving it after watching others. The skill continues to spread even after the original string-puller is gone.
A study found that bees continue to use Lévy flight patterns when infected with viruses or diseases, indicating a possible innate ability to withstand pathogens. Researchers tracked individual bees using radar technology and discovered robust searching abilities even in unhealthy bees.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that exposure to imidacloprid, a popular insecticide, significantly reduces the number of eggs laid by queen bees. This impairment can lead to colony decline and death, highlighting the need for beekeepers to take precautions when using neonicotinoids.
Researchers found that flowers are a hot spot for bacterial transmission to wild bees, with multiple flower and bee species sharing the same types of bacteria. This discovery highlights the importance of understanding wild bees as an alternative pollination option due to declining honey bee populations.
Research from North Carolina State University shows that traveling honey bees have shorter lives and greater oxidative stress levels than stationary bees. Access to readily available food or supplemental nutrition can mitigate these negative impacts, particularly during periods of high flower scarcity.
A new study has linked exposure to neonicotinoid seed-treated oilseed rape crops to long-term population decline of wild bee species in England. The research found that oilseed rape is a key mechanism for neonicotinoid exposure among wild bee communities, leading to significant declines in biodiversity.
Plant scientists found that the cucumber mosaic virus alters gene expression in tomato plants, changing their scent to attract bumblebees. This indirect manipulation may help the virus spread pollen of susceptible plants, benefiting both the plant and the virus.
Researchers found that ground-nesting bees were the most abundant insects in corn and soybean fields, accounting for 65% of total pollinators. The study suggests that adopting no-till practices and programs like STRIPS could benefit pollinators, potentially increasing yields by up to 6%.
A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that pesticides applied to hives to control Varroa mites can damage the gut microbiome of honeybees, impacting their ability to metabolize sugars and peptides. The research suggests that these chemicals can specifically harm the microbes crucial for honey bee nutrition and health.
Researchers tracked individual bumblebees throughout their lives using harmonic radar technology, revealing distinct exploration and exploitation flight patterns. The study provides insights into how to manage landscapes to benefit plants, insects, and agricultural crops, as well as understanding gene spread and parasite transmission.
Researchers discovered how queen honeybees control worker bees' fertility through the Notch cell-signalling pathway. The study found that inhibiting Notch signalling can overcome the effect of queen pheromone and promote ovary activity in adult worker bees.
Researchers observed that certain bees act as 'fanners' during the hottest part of the day, funneling air towards cooler nest regions. This collective respiratory movement may help cool the nest with a mechanism analogous to mammalian inhalation.
Honey bees can manipulate the shape of their abdomens by curling in one direction due to asymmetrical membranes connecting abdominal segments. This unique movement is made possible by a thin, flexible layer of cells called the folded intersegmental membrane (FIM), allowing each segment to slide into the next one.
A study confirms a rare case of mutualism between humans and a wild animal, the Yao tribe's use of a distinct call to attract a bird species as a honeyguide resulting in 75% successful discovery of beehives. Researchers found that the 'brrr-hm' call increased the probability of being guided by a honeyguide from 33% to 66%.
Research reveals that humans use special calls to recruit wild birds, while honeyguides actively recruit appropriate human partners. This unique collaboration allows both species to access valuable resources.
Researchers discovered that water collector bees respond to thirsty nest mates' begging, increasing their water-bearing activity. The team found that the hive stabilized its temperature at 40°C by controlling its water intake.
A study by the University of Edinburgh reveals that plant flower arrangements influence bee flight patterns to maximize pollination and reproduction. Researchers found that flowers on one side of the stem lead to vertical flights, while circular arrangements discourage upward flights.
Researchers found that bees hold their antennae forward in response to increasing air speeds, but also maintain a fixed position when both visual cues and airflow are present. This suggests that bees may be using airflow to calibrate their internal speedometer, helping them estimate distances during flight.
A better understanding of how pollinators interact with plants is key to untangling the decline in pollinator health. Researchers are using molecular genetic analysis to reconstruct historical records of plant visits by native bees across 10 prairie sites in Kansas.
As air pollution increases, hydrocarbon molecules break down, confusing bees and increasing foraging time. This affects not only generalist but also specialist bees, impacting pollination and ecosystem balance.
Researchers used multiplexed shotgun genotyping to uncover species relationships within the North American genus Penstemon. The study confirms ancestral hymenoptera pollination and independent transitions to hummingbird pollination, revealing floral diversity and adaptations.
Researchers study bird and insect flight techniques to develop biologically-inspired UAV control systems. The goal is to create fully autonomous drones that can navigate without GPS or radar, enabling applications like surveillance and planetary exploration.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that genes involved in cellular remodeling are conserved across honey bees and mammals, suggesting a common origin for social behavior. These findings provide insight into the evolution of complex sociality in animals.
Researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that social time cues override light exposure in regulating honeybees' natural body clock. This finding highlights the complexity of clock regulation in natural habitats and has implications for understanding circadian rhythms in other species.
Researchers found that bumble bees selectively forage among plant species based on the nutritional quality of their pollen. The study identified specific plant species with high protein-to-lipid ratios as preferred by bumble bees.
Researchers at Mainz University discovered a new mechanism of neonicotinoids harming honeybees by reducing acetylcholine in royal jelly/larval food. High doses of neonicotinoids damage microchannels, jeopardizing normal development and survival.
Scientists found that cultivating squash led to the expansion of a bee species, Peponapis pruinosa, from central Mexico to California and Idaho. Genetic analysis revealed genetic bottlenecks in populations, suggesting farming practices may be causing local extinctions.
A London bee tracking project has begun, releasing 500 tagged bees to study their behavior and interactions with flowers in urban gardens. The project aims to understand the bees' preferred patches and favourite flowers, rewarding participants with prizes for identifying the most flowers visited by individual bees.
A University of Kansas researcher is studying the co-evolution of flowers with pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, exploring how natural selection has enabled flowers to shift strategies from bee-pollination to hummingbird pollination. She aims to discover the extent to which evolutionary change is predictable.
The study found that Varroa mites prefer infesting adult bees at mid-age, or during the nurse phase, which takes care of larvae. This preference significantly affects the mite's reproductive fitness and success later on.
Bees that specialize on sunflower pollen have evolved to avoid a common brood-parasitic wasp, Sapyga, which is unable to develop on the pollen provisions of these bees. This study suggests that specialization on sunflower pollen confers anti-parasite benefits.
A study found that isolated Cape honeybees in South Africa reproduce asexually, with female workers laying eggs fertilized by their own DNA. This unique behavior is linked to genetic differences at several genes, enabling social parasitism and population survival.
Research identifies genetic basis for social parasitism in Cape bees, where worker bees can reproduce asexually. The study reveals that multiple genes are required for this trait, including those involved in hormonal signaling and chromosomal segregation.
Researchers have discovered eight new endemic polyester bee species in Chile, showcasing their adaptability across various habitats. The newly described species, including the Charizard bee, display unique characteristics such as snout-like faces and broad hind legs.
A study by Purdue University reveals that honeybees collect pollen from non-crop plants contaminated with a wide range of pesticides, including pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. The researchers found that bees are chronically exposed to these chemicals throughout the growing season.
Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that bumblebees' tiny hairs deflect in response to electric fields, but only the hairs alert the bee's nervous system. This finding suggests that electroreception in insects may be more common than previously thought.
Researchers found that Australian small carpenter bee populations flourished in the wake of global warming following the last Ice Age. The study's findings suggest that bees have responded similarly to climate change globally, which could be a positive sign for their survival.
Research from North Carolina State University finds that bees in cities rely on flowers for nectar, not processed sugars. Domesticated and feral bee populations show varying levels of sugar consumption.
The US saw a significant loss of honey bee colonies, with commercial and small-scale beekeepers losing 44.1% of their colonies over the course of the year. The main cause of these losses is the varroa mite, which can easily spread between colonies.
Research finds honeybees anticipate and react to rapid temperature increases sooner in larger groups of 10, suggesting decentralized information gathering improves response time. This study explores the role of group size on self-organization and biological environments.
Researchers have built a computer model that mimics bees' ability to detect motion and navigate complex environments. The model uses optic flow to control flight and avoid obstacles, paving the way for more efficient autonomous flying robots.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield developed a computer model to understand how bees use vision to avoid collisions. The model suggests that adding speed detection capabilities to existing motion-direction detecting circuits could enhance the navigation and routing algorithms for autonomous flying robotics.
Entomologists have described a traumatic insemination process in which male twisted-winged parasites inject semen directly into the female's body cavity. The fertilization process is unusually prolonged, lasting up to 30 minutes, and is likely used to reduce sperm competition.
A new project aims to mobilize the public to help local urban bees by planting bee-friendly flowers and tracking their movements. The London Pollinator Project encourages Londoners to plant flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, such as English lavender and spiked speedwell, to support the ailing urban bee population.
Researchers found high levels of varroa mites and fungal parasites, with severe correlations to viral diseases like Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. The study provides crucial baseline data for tracking future trends in honey bee health.
Researchers at the University of Stirling discovered that wild bumblebees are born with the ability to vibrate flowers to extract pollen. Over time and with practice, bees refine their vibrations, saving energy and maximizing rewards from each flower.
New research reveals honey bee colonies adapt their diet to counter nutritional deficiencies, prioritizing diets that complement specific amino acid deficiencies. This ability allows bees to maintain a balanced nutrition level when alternative floral resources are scarce.
A Purdue University study found that rising carbon dioxide levels have reduced protein in goldenrod pollen, a key food source for North American bees. This decline may threaten bee health and survival, particularly during the winter months when bees must store substantial amounts of pollen to overwinter.
A new study reveals that copper sulfate, commonly used as a fungicide in agriculture, is lethal to the native Brazilian bee Friesella schrottkyi. Sublethal exposure also affects its behavior, highlighting concerns for growers and pollinator conservation.
A study found that commercial bumble bee pollination operations coincided with infections and declines in wild bumble bees. The fungus, N. bombi, was present in the US as early as 1980, well before wild bumble bee species began to decline.
Researchers from Arizona State University discovered that short-term starvation in larval stage makes adult honey bees more resilient to starvation. This finding suggests a predictive adaptive response, similar to solitary organisms, which could help solve the problem of colony collapse disorder.
Researchers found that Asian honey bees produce different types of vibrational stop signals when attacked by giant hornets, which vary depending on the level of danger and context. These signals can inhibit recruitment to dangerous food sources or alert nestmates to imminent threats.
A recent study found that ground-nesting bees on heavily farmed landscapes have a smaller size, with female bees carrying 40% less pollen. This may impact their ability to provision offspring and lead to population decline.
Bumblebees are unable to share their pollinating knowledge with less experienced bees, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. The researchers set up an outdoor flight cage with artificial flowers and found that more experienced bees frequently attacked newcomers who tried to copy their foraging routes.
A Clemson University study investigates the benefits of diverse agroecosystems in watermelon production. Native bees and wildflowers may complement honeybees to improve crop quality and yield. The research aims to find a simple way for farmers to attract native pollinators, potentially eliminating the need for domesticated honeybees.
Researchers found that bumblebees exposed to pesticides collected more pollen but took longer to do so than control bees. Control bees chose different flowers than pesticide-exposed bees.