Articles tagged with Bees
Research found that pesticides can subtly impact individual bees, leading to colony failure. The study provides an important breakthrough in understanding the causes of declining bee populations and offers insights for policymakers.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside found that selenium, a naturally occurring metal, has toxic effects on honey bees. The study reveals that organic forms of selenium alter protein conformation and cause developmental problems, while inorganic forms cause oxidative stress.
A study found that honey bees fear predators and avoid associated food sources, making colonies more cautious but individual bees more risk-tolerant. This strategy may help bees exploit all available food sources by having some foragers visit danger to allocate the colony's foraging efficiently.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a model of the American foulbrood disease outbreak in Jersey, which helps understand how the disease spreads and simulates various control interventions. The study found that just under half of the infection spread was attributed to transmission by beekeepers between their own hives.
Honeybee decline poses significant threat to US fruit and vegetable production, with estimated annual losses of $15 billion. The cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD) remains unknown, but factors such as pesticides, parasites, and diseases are being investigated.
The University of Strathclyde's research reveals a significant increase in honey bee colony losses in Scotland, with 31.3% of managed colonies failing to survive last winter. The loss rate is almost double the previous year and has major implications for crop pollination and food supply.
A new technique enables scientists to target multiple genes in honey bees via RNA interference, allowing for the examination of insulin metabolism's role in food-related behavior. This breakthrough could provide insight into human dietary behavior and potentially lead to gene control over undesirable food choices.
Researchers found that common fungicides and insecticides can weaken the immune systems of honey bees, making them more susceptible to infection with a deadly parasite. The study's findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on pesticide use during crop pollination.
Research found that removing even one bumblebee species from an ecosystem significantly reduces pollination effectiveness and plant seed production. The study showed that reduced competition among pollinators disrupts floral fidelity, leading to less successful plant reproduction.
The study found that removing one bumblebee species from an ecosystem reduces floral fidelity among remaining bees, leading to fewer seeds produced by larkspur wildflowers. This suggests global declines in pollinators could have a significant impact on food crops and flowering plants.
A study found that over three-quarters of imported bumblebee colonies tested carried parasites, posing a risk to native bees and honeybees. The researchers argue that producers must improve disease screening and regulatory authorities must strengthen measures to prevent the importation of parasite-carrying colonies.
Researchers found that spider webs are more effective at capturing charged insects, with positively charged insects attracting the negatively charged web. This discovery suggests that electrostatic charges may have driven the evolution of specialized webs.
Researchers have developed a novel trophallaxis network control method for formation flight of multiple UAVs, which enables efficient information transfer and coordination. The new strategy has the potential to improve the stability and performance of UAV formations in various applications.
A new study by Levente Orbán and Catherine Plowright found that bumblebees prefer radial patterns over concentric patterns when searching for nectar. The researchers tested flower-naive bees using radio-frequency identification technology and video recordings, exposing them to two types of patterns: concentric and radial.
Researchers tracked 80 commercial honey bee colonies over 10 months and found that those with queens who had mated at least seven times were 2.86 times more likely to survive. This suggests that genetic diversity is crucial for the survival of honey bee colonies.
A team of scientists is investigating the potential of wild bumble bees as a supplementary workforce to honey bees in improving crop pollination. They aim to increase wild bumble bee populations, which could complement the work of honey bees and address declining wild honey bee populations.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that coffee farmers in southern India can increase yields independently of bees, through irrigation, liming, and agroforestry practices. The study's findings challenge the idea that pollinators are essential for coffee production, highlighting the importance of alternative factors.
Researchers have identified a key gene in honey bees that enables them to learn and remember how to find food and navigate back to the hive. The Egr gene plays a crucial role in learning and novelty detection in both humans and insects.
A new study by researchers at the University of Leeds and Naturalis Biodiversity Centre found evidence of slowing declines in bee biodiversity between the 1950s and 1980s. The study suggests that conservation efforts, such as agri-environment programs, may be having an impact on reducing biodiversity losses among bees and wild plants.
A new study found that certain compounds in honey, including p-coumaric acid and propolis, can stimulate the expression of detoxification genes and immunity genes in honey bees. This suggests that a diet rich in these substances may help protect against pesticide exposure and other threats.
In a study of the I Love Bees game, researchers discovered that players formed teams and adopted a military-like leadership hierarchy, suggesting that game designers should not over-design leadership structures. The findings highlight the power of games to inspire collaboration and teamwork.
A new species of leafcutter bee, Megachile chomskyi, has been found in Texas. The species is known for its narrow preference for specific pollen sources, particularly the Evening-Primrose Family. Its unique characteristics include an elongated tongue and mandible structure.
Bees copy each other when looking for nectar by watching colour patterns and learning from others' behaviour. This simple logic helps them avoid bitter-tasting flowers and optimise their search for energy-rich nectar.
Research at the University of Pittsburgh found that bumblebees can taste and discriminate against certain metals like nickel but are more tolerant of aluminum, which may pose a risk to their health
Researchers found that exposure to combined pesticides interferes with the learning circuits in bees' brains, causing slower learning or forgetting important associations. This has profound implications for honeybee colony survival as bees unable to learn will not be able to find food.
Researchers found that social bees use chemical signals to mark flowers where they've been attacked, while solitary bees do not. The study suggests a link between sociability and the evolution of warning signals in bees.
Scientists have shown that caffeine enhances a honeybee's memory of floral traits, allowing them to remember flowers better. This discovery could lead to improved pollination and plant recruitment.
A new study reveals slight declines in bee species in the northeastern US over a 140-year period, with only three species of bumble bees experiencing rapid population collapse. Other bee species, such as the oil bee, show more gradual declines or increases in proportion.
A new study finds that idiopathic brood disease syndrome is the largest risk factor for predicting honey bee colony death, with a risk factor of 3.2. Queen events are also a significant contributor, with a risk factor of 3.1. The study highlights the need for further research into these health issues.
A study published in Science reveals a significant decline in bee species in West Central Illinois since the late 1800s. Charles Robertson's records from the 19th century provided valuable insights into wild bee interactions, which are still relevant today.
A large-scale study found that wild insects consistently enhance fruit set for a broad range of crops and agricultural practices on all continents. The researchers concluded that losses of wild insects from agricultural landscapes will likely impact both natural heritage and harvests.
A recent study found that managed honey bees are less successful at pollinating crops than wild insects, highlighting the negative consequences of losing wild insect populations. The research emphasizes the need for integrated management practices to promote long-term agricultural production and enhance global crop yields.
Biologists Tiffany Knight and Laura Burkle studied a historic dataset from Charles Robertson's 19th-century naturalist work, revealing a weakened plant-pollinator network. The study found that half of the bee species associated with flowers had disappeared, pollinators were active before plants bloomed, and pollination services declined.
Researchers discovered that the area has lost many species of bees and flowering plants, but found them surprisingly resilient in the face of warmer temperatures. The study used historical data to examine plant-pollinator interactions and found mismatches between plants and their historic pollinators due to climate change.
Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that flowers produce electric signals to attract pollinators like bumblebees. These signals can convey information about nectar and pollen reserves, improving flower-pollinator communication.
According to MIT researchers, human language may have originated in birdsong, combining an expression layer with a lexical layer. This combination triggered the emergence of complex communication patterns, including finite vocabularies and melodic capacity.
A new study published in the Journal of Media Psychology found that sports fans enjoy watching athletic events with high drama and suspense, regardless of the outcome. The researchers discovered that viewers root for heroic athletes and against unfavorable ones, yet report enjoying the game despite the winner.
Research suggests that reducing pavement and increasing natural habitat can improve nesting opportunities for wild bees. Bees will also forage further away from their home nest if the surrounding landscape is less heterogeneous, seeking out species-rich patches.
A simple and cost-effective monitoring system could detect two to five percent annual declines in bee populations with data from about 200 locations over five years. The program is estimated to cost $2 million and has already been used in several countries, providing valuable insights into global pollinator losses.
Researchers train honey bees to associate textured surfaces with sugar water, allowing them to analyze how antennal movement corresponds to tactile pattern recognition. The study provides insight into the complex behavior of honey bees and their use of active motion for sensory information.
Scientists have identified a 'histone code' in honey bees that helps control cell development and explains why they are sensitive to environmental changes. The discovery may also shed light on how royal jelly affects the sex of honey bee larvae.
A new study by Nayuta Brand and Michel Chapuisat found that queen sweat bees restrict the amount of food provided to their first brood, resulting in smaller female workers. This 'choosing' behavior ensures that daughters become workers rather than queens.
Researchers discovered that moths use two distinct olfactory channels to navigate their food sources. The first channel governs their innate preferences for certain flowers, while the second allows them to learn about alternate sources of nectar. This study provides insights into how moths survive in changing floral environments.
A study by Menzel and colleagues found that sleep-deprived bees struggled to form new memories, particularly in navigating alternative routes. In contrast, well-rested bees easily learned new routes after being displaced from familiar paths.
Research found that chronic exposure to two pesticides impaired natural foraging behaviour and increased worker mortality in bumblebee colonies. This led to significant reductions in colony success and increased rates of colony failure.
Research from York University suggests that worker bees' genes are shuffled frequently, allowing natural selection to build a better bee. This genetic 'remix' enables the evolution of charismatic and cooperative behaviors in honey bees.
Michigan State University has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from the USDA to support specialty crop yields and profit through improved pollination management. The five-year project aims to develop region- and crop-specific Integrated Crop Pollination approaches using honey bees, wild bees, and alternative managed bees.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield and Sussex aim to build flying robots that can sense and act autonomously like bees. They will use computer models of the systems governing a honey bee's vision and sense of smell to achieve this goal.
Researchers discovered specific proteins in honey bees that help them resist Varroa mite infestations. These proteins enable the removal of infected larvae and reduce mite populations, promoting the survival of the species. This natural approach could provide a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Researchers at Arizona State University and Norwegian University of Life Sciences found that resveratrol extends honey bee lifespan by 33-38%, reducing food intake. The compound triggers a moderation effect, making bees less sensitive to sugar concentrations.
Scientists tracked bumblebees to understand their route selection process. After an average of 26 attempts each bee refined its route through trial and error, selecting the most efficient path. The study revealed that bees don't easily forget a fruitful flower and can learn complex routes without visual cues.
Scientists tracked bumblebees in a field setting to study how they select optimal routes to collect nectar. After repeated trials, bees refined their paths, using mathematical models to understand their learning process and optimize their routes.
Researchers found 155 regions of DNA with different tag patterns in bees, which were mostly regulatory genes known to affect other genes. The epigenetic marks were reversible and connected to the bees' behavior, with more than half of those regions already identified among the original 155 regions.
The pollination services provided by insects like bees and hover-flies are crucial for global food production, but declining pollinators threaten this ecosystem service. The loss of pollinators could lead to reduced crop yields and decreased fruit and vegetable availability, exacerbating food insecurity.
Recent research reveals five new species of cuckoo bees from the Cape Verde Islands, demonstrating the region's rich biodiversity and evolutionary diversity. The discovery highlights a phenomenon known as 'island gigantism,' where isolated populations exhibit increased body size.
Royal jelly's composition can be modified to change the body size of queen bees during development, with a potential impact on human health. The study uses histone deacetylase inhibitors to create super RJ, leading to increased larva growth and potential health benefits.
Researchers discovered that older honey bees effectively reverse brain aging when they take on nest responsibilities typically handled by younger bees. The study found changes in molecular structure of their brains, including the presence of proteins that can help protect against dementia.
A study by Arizona State University researchers identified a possible molecular link between sweet taste perception and the state of internal energy in honey bees. By suppressing two genes, they discovered that bees can become more sensitive to sweet taste, similar to people with Type 1 diabetes.
A study by researchers in Hawaii and the UK reveals that Varroa mites facilitate the spread of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) among honey bees. The mite's presence increases DWV frequency from 10% to 100%, leading to massive colony losses and a single 'virulent' strain emerging.
Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered that conical cells on plant petals provide crucial grip for bees, increasing pollinator preference. The study reveals that these cells help bees land on flowers even in windy conditions.