Articles tagged with Bees
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A study found that fossilized bees from 50 million years ago were finicky about the pollen they fed their larvae, always collecting it from the same plants. The bees also ate a wide variety of things on their own flights, showing they didn't waste time searching for specific food sources.
Researchers discovered that ancient bees used both generalist and specialist pollen-collecting strategies, finding pollen from diverse flowers on their bodies except for the hind legs. This finding challenges previous theories about the early history of bee pollination.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London found male bumblebees equal to female worker bees in learning floral colors. The study showed that male bees can learn new flower colors as indicators for nectar even when the original color changes.
Researchers detected beeswax in ancient pottery vessels from over 150 European archaeological sites, indicating a widespread association between early farmers and honeybees. This discovery pushes back the chronology of human-honeybee association to substantially earlier dates.
A recent review article by UC Riverside-led researcher Peter Graystock highlights the risks of managed bees to wild bees, including disease transmission and population declines. The study recommends improved disease screening, unified international regulations, and conservation efforts to mitigate these effects.
Researchers developed a prototype device that can remotely monitor hive activity using vibrations from bee vocalizations, allowing for real-time tracking of changes in bee behavior. The device has been tested on two UK and French colonies, detecting daily rhythms and seasonal variations in bee activity.
Researchers found that urban areas have higher pathogen abundance and lower honey bee survival rates compared to rural environments. The study suggests that increased transmission rates in urban areas may be the primary cause of this effect.
A $7.3 million genomic project in Canada is developing a winter-hardy, disease-resistant breed of honeybees to combat declining health and economic losses. The research aims to improve bee health through the identification of genetic markers and the development of accurate tests for detecting Africanized genetics.
A study by the USGS found that native bees are exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides and other pesticides, particularly in agricultural fields and grasslands. The presence of these pesticides can harm bee populations and reproductive success.
Researchers found that honey bee larvae acquire social information from their environment, which affects their aggression and resilience. The study suggests that early-life experiences shape the behavior of adult bees, with aggressive individuals exhibiting increased resistance to pesticides.
Researchers at Aarhus University have created a model that groups the incidence of viral infections into four categories, allowing beekeepers to easily assess the severity of infections. This simplified system benefits both scientists and beekeepers, enabling them to make informed decisions about disease prevention and breeding.
Researchers found that red mason bee females prefer males from their own region based on specific vibration patterns. This discovery suggests that vibrational signals carry complex information about a male's place of origin.
Researchers have discovered that a Brazilian social bee must cultivate fungus to survive, highlighting the importance of symbiotic relationships in colony health. The fungus is grown in the nest and is transferred to newly built cells, with larvae surviving 76% of the time when fed fungal mycelia.
Research suggests that diesel fumes, containing toxic nitrous oxide (NOx), can alter five common floral odours that bees rely on for finding food. This could have a worse impact on bee populations than previously thought, highlighting the need to address air pollution from vehicles.
Researchers found that caffeinated nectar tricks honey bees into valuing it as a higher quality forage, leading to increased foraging and recruitment behaviors. The study suggests that plants may be using caffeine as a way to deceive pollinators.
Researchers tested 42 pesticides in a realistic field setting, finding that glyphosate and acetamiprid showed little to no toxicity to honey bees. This study suggests these pesticides could be effective alternatives to other, more toxic options.
A new University of Stirling study has uncovered the secrets of 'pollen thief' bees, which take pollen from flowers without providing pollination services. The research found that these smaller bees often stay longer at each flower and visit fewer flowers in each run, contributing little to seed production.
A new bee fly species, Marleyimyia xylocopae, is described based solely on high-resolution photographs. The researchers emphasize the importance of alternative methods in species description due to difficulties in obtaining permits for collecting specimens.
Researchers have found that hawk moths and bumble bees are damaging rare orchids in North Dakota by stealing nectar without providing pollination services. The long-tongued hawk moth species are particularly problematic, as they have tongues longer than the orchid's spur, allowing them to access nectar without paying for it.
A new study finds that climate-related changes in flower diversity are causing a significant shortening of alpine bumble bees' tongues, making them poorly suited to feed from deep flowers they were adapted to. This loss of mutualism highlights how climate change can decouple well-established relationships between bees and plants.
The study introduces a new Barcoding of Life project, AUSBS, to identify Australian native bees. Four new species were recognized as part of the largest Australian nature discovery project Bush Blitz, using molecular and morphological evidence.
Researchers have found that more than 60 percent of the foraging honey bees in San Diego County are Africanized, and that Africanized bees can now be found as far north as California's delta region. The study suggests that the northward expansion of Africanized bees in California is consistent with patterns previously documented in Texas.
Bumblebees infected with a common intestinal parasite are drawn to flowers rich in medicinal compounds, which may help combat bee species decline. The study found that bees alter their foraging behavior to maximize consumption of beneficial plant chemicals.
A study at the University of Illinois identified p-coumaric acid as a key factor in determining honey bee caste. The research found that larvae fed with beebread and honey containing p-coumaric acid undergo changes in gene expression, shifting them away from queen development.
A research team led by Alexander Mikheyev found a population of wild bees in Ithaca, New York, that has retained its strength despite the presence of Varroa destructor mites since the mid-1990s. The bees have developed genetic resistance to the disease.
Researchers found four common bee parasites dispersed via flowers, causing diseases such as lethargy, dysentery, and colony collapse. The study suggests planting more flowers can provide bees with options, reducing parasite spread.
Researchers from Arizona State University and other institutions discovered how bees immunize their offspring against specific diseases using the bee blood protein vitellogenin. This process enables bee babies to better fight diseases once they are born, opening doors for creating edible vaccines for insects.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that over 70% of pollen and honey samples collected from foraging bees in Massachusetts contain neonicotinoids, a class of pesticide linked to Colony Collapse Disorder. The study suggests that these pesticides pose significant risks to bee health and human exposure.
Researchers tracked individual bees to study the effect of a low-dose gut parasite, nosema, on their behavior. Infected bees were found to be less efficient foragers, carrying less pollen and dying younger.
Researchers have found that climate change is causing widespread declines of pollinators across continents, affecting critical roles played by bumble bees as wild pollinators. The study reveals that bumble bee species are being compressed into their northernmost ranges, leading to alarming effects on ecosystems.
A comprehensive study found that global warming is shrinking the habitat range of bumblebees, leading to a continental-scale decline. The research suggests that climate change is not the only threat, but rather a key factor in the rapid losses of terrain from the south and lagging expansion in the warming north.
Researchers found that sunlight can degrade neonicotinoids in water, but not always quickly enough to protect aquatic life and bees. In shallow depths of just 3 inches, certain insecticides persisted, increasing exposure risks for wildlife.
A new approach developed by scientists from the China National Genebank (CNGB), BGI-Shenzhen demonstrates the value of mitochondrial genome databases in detecting wild bees in UK farms. The method uses mitogenome references to analyze 'bee soup' DNA, providing a more accurate and efficient way to track population trajectories.
A new DNA sequencing method allows for efficient tracking of wild bee populations, enabling conservationists to detect decline trends and test remedies. The 'bee soup' technique can quickly identify species diversity and abundance in a single sample, saving time and money compared to traditional methods.
Researchers found that plant-derived tick repellents activate a sensory protein on mite front legs, influencing their survival. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary plasticity of TRP channels in parasite-host interactions.
Researchers study insect leg shapes to improve thin-walled tube safety in aircraft and hospital equipment. They find that non-circular cross sections can be designed without compromising mechanical strength, inspired by nature.
A major international study reveals that only two percent of wild bee species are responsible for pollinating 80 percent of global crops. This finding underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity, particularly among common wild bee species such as the common eastern bumblebee and red-tailed bumblebee.
Researchers will study how individual variation and behavioral plasticity impact group performance, with both human subjects and bees completing collaborative tasks.
A two-year study on bumble bees in Alaskan agricultural areas reveals declining populations of the western bumble bee species Bombus occidentalis, which is infected with Nosema and social parasites. The research provides baseline data for understanding reported patterns of bumble bee declines in North America.
A new Cornell study reveals that pesticides harm wild bees and indirectly threaten native pollinators, particularly in orchards with limited natural areas. The research highlights the importance of protecting these vital pollinators for food production, as they contribute to 35% of global food production.
Researchers at Michigan State University have found that Varroa mites can mimic the scent of honeybees to infiltrate hives. The study revealed that the parasites are able to adapt quickly, changing their surface chemicals within days to evade detection by bees.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered a microsporidian called Nosema ceranae can infect honeybee larvae, leading to reduced lifespans as adults. The parasite has been linked to colony collapse disorder, with global losses of one-third of managed bee colonies each year.
A new study by U.S. Forest Service scientists shows that changes in forest structure may be contributing to declines in native bee populations. Bees prefer open forests with diverse herbaceous communities, which require prescribed fire to maintain. Managing for open forests can also help sustain other species and pollination.
A new genomic study of bee species found that gene regulation and network complexity are linked to the evolution of social complexity. The research revealed changes in gene activity and DNA methylation as social behavior increased, indicating a 'collective genome' less vulnerable to environmental changes.
A genome analysis of ten bee species reveals that eusociality evolves differently each time, but shares common trends in gene regulation and complexity. Natural selection relaxes for key genes after complex social forms emerge, as seen in honeybees.
The US experienced a significant decline in honey bee colonies between April 2014 and April 2015, with beekeepers losing over 40% of their colonies. Summer losses were particularly severe, with commercial beekeepers facing high rates of colony losses due to unknown factors.
Research in The FASEB Journal found that neonicotinoid pesticides alter bee brains, disrupting learning, food gathering, and reproductive abilities. Exposure to low levels of these pesticides can cause significant harm to bees, leading to smaller colonies and poor nest conditions.
Researchers found that bumblebees infected with the Crithidia bombi parasite were more likely to consume nicotine-laced nectar, delaying parasite progression. However, consuming nicotine had negative effects, suppressing the appetite of infected bees and reducing healthy bee lifespan.
Two bumblebee species' genomes have been sequenced, providing insights into their behavior and responses to environmental threats. The research highlights the importance of understanding bumblebee biology to address declining populations and ensure their conservation.
The study provides insights into the genetic basis and evolution of bumblebee biology, including their social living, coping with chemicals, and diseases. The findings suggest that the immune system of bees has remained largely the same since before the origin of bee sociality.
A field study by Lund University has shown that neonicotinoid pesticides harm wild bees, affecting their growth and reproduction. Researchers found no negative impact on honeybees, but warned of the need for new evaluation methods to predict risks in real landscapes.
A genetic test that can identify desirable and undesirable bee subspecies has been created to improve biosecurity of honey bees worldwide. The test uses 95 genetic mutations that distinguish between African and European honey bees.
A genetic test has been developed to identify 'killer' bees, allowing for the safe import of Varroa-resistant honeybees from countries where killer bees are present. This technology is crucial for preventing losses in Australia's $4-6 billion crop industry relying on honeybee pollination.
A new open-access article provides cutting-edge resources for identifying parasitoid wasps in Africa and Madagascar, with over 306 described species and 54 genera available for research. The resource aims to facilitate future work on the taxonomy of these wasps and their importance in ecosystems.
A new study by Heather Mattila reveals that inadequate access to pollen during larval development has lasting effects on adult honey bees' performance and productivity. The study found that pollen-stressed bees were lighter, died younger, and had impaired foraging and waggle dancing abilities.
Researchers found that bumblebees can distinguish between two visually clearly different feeder types when arranged horizontally but failed to do so when they were distributed vertically. The bees' decision-making is influenced by their natural foraging environment, where rewarding and unrewarding flowers often grow side-by-side.
Researchers discovered that honey bees use distinct mechanisms to fight off viruses, bacteria, and gut parasites, including the RNAi pathway and DNA methylation. The findings may help develop targeted treatments for honey bee colonies affected by specific infections.
A study by Washington University in St. Louis found that low levels of manganese increased dopamine levels in honey bee brains, speeding up their behavior, while high doses caused toxicity. The findings suggest that honey bees may serve as early warning indicators for environmental toxins.
A two-year study found that flower strips on farms in the UK increased common bumblebee populations by significantly boosting their numbers and nesting density. The research suggests that targeted agri-environment schemes can boost bee populations, particularly for common species, but may not benefit rarer species as much.
A new field-based study from the University of Maryland reveals that realistic levels of imidacloprid exposure do not significantly harm honey bee colonies. However, higher doses and synergistic combinations with other stressors, such as climate change and malnutrition, can cause more severe consequences.