Articles tagged with Bees
A single gene mutation may have kick-started the emergence of new species in monkeyflowers by altering pollinator preferences. The study, which combined ecological observations with molecular genetic techniques, found that major changes can lead to speciation.
A new study found that gene expression is robustly associated with behavior in adult honey bee brains, revealing a dynamic genome involved in modulating behavior.
Researchers find that one species of Brazilian stingless bee uses an abbreviated scent trail to communicate food location, avoiding broadcasting information to competitors. The unique trail has a teardrop shape and scent concentration that allows bees to pinpoint specific food sources.
Researchers isolated a honeybee gene called csd, revealing that female bees have two different versions of the gene that form an active protein triggering female development. This discovery explains how male and female bees develop from fertilized and unfertilized eggs, respectively.
The Amorphophallus titan, or 'Ted the Titan,' produces a distinctive odor to attract flies for pollination. Scientists have identified compounds in the plant's scent that are similar to those found in rotting meat, and research is underway to isolate these compounds and explore their potential uses.
Bees that follow dance language with distance and direction information collect more food than those following disoriented dances. This effect is strongest during the winter season and helps ensure colony survival.
A study published in PNAS found that intensive farming practices can reduce bee populations and limit the pollination services provided by native bees. However, careful land use management can support the flourishing of native bee species, which are capable of doing more pollinating than previously thought.
A new study found that a specific gene stimulates an activity-boosting enzyme in the brain's visual processing centers of honeybees, leading to changes in foraging behavior. The gene's impact on foraging is similar to its effects in other species, suggesting a crucial role in understanding how genes influence behavior.
Researchers propose that social insects like ants, bees, and wasps provide a unique opportunity to study genetic imprinting. This process involves the labeling of genes by mothers and fathers before passing them on to their offspring, leading to conflicts between maternal and paternal genes.
The new center will focus on developing solutions to the two major threats to honeybees, including parasitic mites and Africanized honeybees. It aims to create mite-resistant stocks of honeybees using molecular technologies and traditional breeding methods.
Researchers discovered that ants and bees use dynamic sticky organs to adhere to various surfaces. The arolium footpad, which secretes a fluid for adhesion, is a key component of this complex system.
Researchers have discovered a potent anti-cavity agent in Brazilian honeybees' propolis, which cut the cavity rate in rats by about 60 percent. The team is now testing the substance on human volunteers to determine its efficacy as a potential preventative measure for cavities.
A team of researchers has discovered that queen and worker honeybees exhibit distinct gene expression profiles, with queen bees down-regulating certain genes and switching on others to support their development. This polyphenic study provides insight into the genetic processes that determine caste identity in honeybees.
Researchers found that bees can deliver a biological fungicide to strawberry blooms more effectively than mechanical sprayers, reducing infected strawberries by 72 percent. The bee-delivered natural fungicide was as effective as chemical sprays at preventing gray mold, a common disease in strawberries.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that snapdragons release more scent during the day when bees are active, and that this relationship between the flower and bee is crucial for pollination. The study also found that a genetic regulatory mechanism controls the production of floral scents in different plant species.
A recent study found that a biological clock gene in honeybees is more active in older bees, especially foragers who perform jobs outside the hive. The discovery suggests molecular connections between the division of labor and biological clocks in social insects.
Researchers at San Francisco State University discovered that blister beetle larvae mimic female bees as part of a three-step strategy to infiltrate and parasitize the bee's nest. The larvae use cooperative behavior to lure male bees into pseudocopulation, which then transport them to multiple females.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that managed honey bees pollinate over 50 crops worth $14.6 billion per year, a 36.3% increase from 1989. The contribution of honey bees to US agriculture is crucial for food production and security.
Researchers found that honeybees rely on image motion to monitor flight distances of hundreds of meters in natural environments. Bees were also affected by visual cues such as tunnel decorations and walls, with some patterns amplifying their perception of distance.
Researchers used harmonic radar to track honey bees during orientation flights, revealing they learn to navigate by flying faster and visiting more areas. The study suggests that orientation flights allow bees to adapt to new environments, but the scientists still want to know why some bees take more or fewer flights.
Researchers found that desert bee larvae wait for rain to emerge, using a bet-hedging strategy to minimize losses in drought years. The approach allows them to thrive in arid environments.
Sandia National Laboratories and University of Montana researchers are training bees to detect buried landmines by tracking their behavior and analyzing pollen samples. The goal is to create a reliable and inexpensive method for detecting mines, which could help protect thousands of acres of uncharted land and prevent injuries.
Researchers are developing a system to track and analyze bees equipped with radio frequency tags to detect explosives, which could aid in locating landmines. The technology aims to train bees to identify minute amounts of explosives, revolutionizing landmine detection.
Researchers at Purdue University have identified a genetic link to the aggressive stinging behavior in Africanized honey bees. By mapping genes associated with aggression, they hope to develop markers for selective breeding of gentle bees, which could improve pollination and reduce threats to beekeepers.
A study at Ohio State University shows that selective breeding helps honeybees develop resistance to tracheal mites, reducing the need for insecticides. Beekeepers can maintain healthy hives without relying on chemicals by selecting and breeding mite-resistant bees.
Researchers discovered middle-aged undertakers exhibit distinct developmental patterns, moving faster than peers but not improving with experience. They also struggle working together and respond to the odor of dead bees. The study provides new insights into the behavior and development of these specialized workers.
Researchers discovered a genetic basis for the hormonal mechanism regulating drone development in male honey bees, which accelerates their growth and allows them to mature early. The findings provide evolutionary insight into the mechanisms controlling worker bee behavior and could lead to new tools for brain research.
Researchers challenge conventional wisdom that scraping off bee stings is more effective than pinching them out. Immediate removal of the sting, rather than its method of removal, reduces the amount of venom injected. Delaying removal increases welt size and envenomization.
Wild honeybee populations have collapsed due to a combination of factors, including harsh winters, wet springs, and blood-sucking mites. As a result, small and medium-sized fruit and vegetable growers will be hardest hit, leading to smaller yields and lower quality produce.