Articles tagged with Honey
A study by University of California San Diego biologists demonstrates that honey bees use a contagious and honest visual signal to deter Asian hornet attacks. The 'I see you' (ISY) signal involves guard bees shaking their abdomens laterally, increasing in intensity as the threat intensifies.
A new study on 150-year-old museum specimens of Western honey bees found higher genetic diversity than expected, contradicting the notion that loss of genetic diversity contributes to bee decline. The research suggests that unique mating systems and migration patterns may help maintain high levels of variation in modern hives.
Researchers developed a combined hardware and software printing system that uses off-the-shelf varnishes to finish objects with realistic, spatially varying gloss patterns. The technology has potential applications in fine art reproduction and prosthetic design, offering near-flawless replicas and more realistic-looking prosthetics.
A team of researchers discovered detailed similarities between the social networks of honey bees and humans, which can be explained by new theoretical modeling. The study reveals individual differences between honey bees, just like humans, and shows that these patterns are universal across species.
A simple technique developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo can now effectively detect pyrethroids in honey, a common pesticide hazard for bees. The extraction method, using solid phase microextraction (SPME), makes it possible to measure safe levels and identify locations with high pesticide use.
A pilot study found that consuming Ataulfo mangoes four times a week reduced deep wrinkles by 23% in postmenopausal women after two months. However, eating more than half a cup per serving may increase wrinkles due to high sugar content.
Scientists have uncovered a 5-million-year-old relative of the living honey badger, Mellivora capensis, from the early Pliocene locality of Langebaanweg in South Africa. The fossil discovery provides insight into the evolution and diversity of mustelids during this time period.
Honey bees rely on chemical cues from shared gut microbial communities to recognize nestmates, rather than genetic relatedness. This study shows that a bee's particular cuticular hydrocarbon profile is dependent on its microbiome.
Honey bees from highly polluted sites in India show reduced survival rates and altered physiological characteristics, indicating air pollution's negative impact on their health. The study suggests that air pollution may also affect ecosystem services, highlighting the need for further research to address this issue.
A recent study found that air pollution in Bangalore City leads to lower flower visitation rates and altered physiological responses in Giant Asian honey bees. The research suggests widespread negative impacts on these critical pollinators, threatening India's food security and ecosystems.
Research from UBC's PCIGR analyzed honey samples from Parisian hives collected after the April 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire. Lead concentrations were up to four times higher than pre-fire levels, suggesting exposure to lead contamination. The study provides a unique method for tracing environmental pollution using honey.
A recent study has identified trehalulose, a rare sugar in native stingless bee honey, as having a low glycaemic index and not causing tooth decay. This discovery strengthens the market for stingless bee honey and creates new opportunities for its use in food products.
Researchers found strong correlations between a colony's defensiveness and specific gene frequencies, rather than individual bee's genes. The study suggests that the home environment, such as island living with human populations, may be a better predictor of gentleness in honey bees.
Researchers identified over 1,100 genetic variants associated with colony-wide aggression levels in response to simulated attacks. A chromosomal region containing genes involved in brain development was found to be strongly linked to the evolution of gentler Africanized honey bees.
Researchers at York University found that the mixing of African and European genetics led to hyper-aggression in invasive African hybrid honey bees (AHB). The study sequenced genomes of AHB colonies and identified mutations associated with their aggressive behavior.
Beekeepers across the US lost 43.7% of their colonies in 2019-2020, with summer losses being the highest ever recorded at 32.0%. Winter losses were lower than usual, but commercial beekeepers struggled the most due to queen health and poor management practices.
Research shows microalgae Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) closely matches pollen's essential amino acids and lipids required by honey bees. Spirulina also contains prebiotics supporting healthy gut bacteria growth.
Researchers have discovered a gene responsible for virgin births in Cape honey bees, allowing workers to lay female eggs without sex. This discovery has significant implications for understanding evolutionary transitions and potentially controlling asexual reproduction.
A new study reveals the emergence of a deadly viral disease in UK honey bee colonies, with clusters of chronic bee paralysis becoming more frequent. The disease is caused by a virus that leads to infected bees dying within a week, resulting in whole colonies being lost.
Researchers identified top food sources for urban honey bees, including trees like maples and oaks in spring, and woody vines like Virginia creeper in summer and fall. The study highlights actionable findings for urban land management, beekeepers, and homeowners to sustain honey bees and other pollinator species.
Researchers used mass spectrometry to analyze sperm stored in honey bee queens and found five proteins activated by extreme temperatures. The proteins can indicate heat stress in queen bees and serve as a bellwether for wider insect fertility losses.
Researchers found that IAPV-infected honey bees are more likely to be accepted by foreign colonies, engaging in increased trophallaxis with guards. The infected bees also exhibit distinct chemical profiles, suggesting a changed behavior meant to appease the guards.
Infection with Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) alters honey bee social behavior, reducing aggression and changing chemical signals. This manipulation facilitates viral transmission between colonies, raising concerns about the impact of high colony densities on pathogen evolution.
Researchers at Shinshu University developed electrospun manuka honey nanofibrous wound dressings with antimicrobial properties. The composite mats demonstrated effectiveness against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Researchers at Newcastle University have found that layering Manuka honey between layers of surgical mesh acts as a natural antibiotic, inhibiting bacteria growth and preventing infection. The study showcases the potential benefits of infusing medical implants with honey, offering an alternative to antibiotics.
A study tracked honey bee nutrition and colony growth in Iowa's intensely farmed state. Colonies near soybean fields experienced short-term gains but failed to support long-term health due to lack of floral resources.
A recent study found that honey bees fare well during the summer months when placed next to soybean fields, but struggle in winter due to a lack of food. Moving hives to prairie sites with late-flowering plants improved their nutritional health and helped them survive the winter.
Researchers found that probiotic supplementation increased immunity against American Foulbrood and reduced the survival rate of infected bees. The study demonstrated a significant increase in Defensin-1 expression, a key antimicrobial peptide in honey bee defense.
A new report found at least seven Australian Leptospermum species produce medical-grade honey with exceptionally high antibacterial activity. The research pinpointed several regions as 'hot spots' to yield these high-value honeys.
A new tool from the US Department of Agriculture predicts the probability of honey bee colonies surviving winter based on colony size and varroa mite infestation. This allows beekeepers to decide whether to overwinter colonies in cold storage, reducing costs and improving financial viability.
Scientists are developing a bee health diagnosis tool to help Canada's declining honey bees. The 'BeeCSI' tool will assess bee health in living colonies and provide management strategies.
Researchers have developed a method to trace industrial metals in the environment using honey and salmon. By analyzing lead isotopes in honey and Pacific salmon, scientists can identify sources of pollutants like lead and cadmium. The technique has been proven effective in Metro Vancouver and is being applied to other cities.
Research conducted by the CNRS found that organic farming boosts honeybee colonies with 37% more brood, 20% more adult bees, and 53% greater honey production. This may be due to a wider diversity of pollen resources or lower pesticide mortality.
The study highlights the importance of native southeastern blueberry bees in pollinating rabbiteye blueberries, increasing fruit set from 10-30% to 70% or more. Providing habitat for these bees on the edges of fields can support their population and improve pollination.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that US honey bees in urban settings collect a diverse range of pollen sources, with the most diverse in California and the least in Texas. The researchers tracked pollen collection across four states over two seasons, identifying key plant groups that provide consistent pollen year-round.
Researchers found that strawberry tree honey reduces colon cancer cell proliferation and colony formation ability by regulating EGFR and MAPKs signaling pathways. The study also showed that the honey inhibits cell cycle, induces apoptosis, and suppresses key genes involved in tumor growth.
Researchers analyzed 13 honeys from the Czech Republic to identify proteins, revealing a similar ratio of known and previously unreported proteins. The study also shed light on allergens present in honey, which could aid in treating allergies.
Scientists found that honey bees share immunity with each other and their offspring through RNA 'vaccines' transmitted via royal jelly. This discovery could lead to new ways to protect bees against viruses and diseases.
A University of Guelph study found that neonicotinoid pesticides, like clothianidin, can reduce honey bees' grooming behaviour when infected with varroa mites. This makes bees more susceptible to disease and death. The research highlights the importance of reducing stressors on bee colonies.
A US Department of Agriculture study found that cold exposure can cause weak honey bee colonies to fail during long-distance hauling. Colonies with fewer than 10 frames are more likely to lose bees and struggle to maintain stable temperatures, increasing the risk of failure and chilling.
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 to selectively shut off a gene for female development, finding that diet has no effect on gonad size when the gene is turned off. This suggests that a specific genetic program must be switched on to permit nutrient level to affect gonad size.
Researchers from Virginia Tech and Eastern Washington University are collaborating on a $958,415 NSF grant to study the critical role of the honey bee gut microbiome in health and defense against parasites. The team aims to develop a network of genes from the parasite, microbiome, and host to determine their interactions with each other.
Researchers analyzed honey from urban beehives to detect pollutants like lead and zinc. The study found higher element concentrations near downtown areas with heavy traffic and industrial activity, suggesting potential manmade sources of pollution.
Honey bees are outcompeting native pollinators for access to pollen and nectar in San Diego's natural habitats. The study found that honey bees account for more than 90 percent of pollinators observed visiting flowers on the most abundantly flowering native plant species.
A new study published in PNAS shows that Varroa mites do not feed on honey bee blood, but rather on the fat body tissue. This discovery has significant implications for controlling the pest and could lead to more effective pesticides and treatments.
Researchers challenge long-standing assumption about varroa mites' diet; find they feed on fat body tissue, essential to honey bees' survival. This discovery could lead to more effective mite treatments and improved bee nutrition.
Researchers found a single gene mutation responsible for thelytoky syndrome, a phenomenon where worker bees ignore queen orders and reproduce on their own. The dominant Thelytoky (Th) gene requires only one copy to express selfish behavior, but its partner gene is necessary for fertility.
Researchers identify fipronil as a potential cause of mass honey bee mortalities in France in the 1990s. Laboratory studies and modeling simulations suggest that fipronil, not imidacloprid, was more likely involved in colony collapse due to toxic bioaccumulation.
Scientists have created a lab-based method to monitor honey bee queen fertility, revealing the impact of worker nutrition on queen egg laying. The study found that worker bees fed with pollen paste resulted in slower egg laying rates for queens compared to those fed with bee bread.
Researchers mapped bee colonies' entire genetic make-up to identify emerging diseases threatening native populations. The study found that native bees may survive better in cooler climates than southern European relatives.
A mushroom extract fed to honey bees greatly reduces virus levels, with a 79-fold reduction in deformed wing virus and a 45,000-fold reduction in Lake Sinai virus. The research shows promise for treating varroa mite-borne viruses and improving bee health.
The herbicide glyphosate reduces abundances of dominant gut microbiota species in exposed bees, making them more susceptible to pathogens. Bees with impaired gut microomes are more likely to die when exposed to opportunistic pathogens.
A six-year study of Hadza hunter-gatherer people in Tanzania found that their willingness to share depends on the group they live with, with generosity clustering within residence groups. This suggests that sharing is driven by local group norms and behavior, rather than individual tendencies.
The PoshBee EU Horizon 2020 project aims to support healthy bee populations and sustainable beekeeping practices in Europe. The project will integrate knowledge from academics, beekeepers, and farmers to quantify the exposure hazard of chemicals on bees and determine their impact on health.
A study by Maria Antonietta Ricci and colleagues found that fructose forms the shortest and strongest hydrogen bonds with water, allowing it to bind more snugly with protein receptors. This interaction enables greater stimulation and perception of sweetness. Mannose, on the other hand, forms longer and weaker hydrogen bonds with water.
A recent study by SF State University's Marcela García-Castañon examines the role spousal relationships play in forming political identities among Mexican immigrants. García-Castañon found that spouses share information and help each other grasp nuances, paving the way for taking action.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that worker honey bees select royal subfamilies, not their own supersisters, to raise as emergency queens. This suggests that 'the good of the hive' overpowers individual genetic selfishness.
A study found that drinking honey or Carafate can provide a physical barrier and neutralize tissue pH increase, reducing injury severity compared to common household liquids. Honey may be a protective intervention for managing button battery ingestion in both households and hospitals.
Researchers trained free-flying honey bees to recognize numbers from two to five, then introduced one and zero, demonstrating their ability to distinguish zero as lower than one.
Researchers found that honey bees shift their nutrient intake according to the season, increasing calcium consumption in the fall and seeking high-potassium sources. This adaptation helps prepare the bees for colder months when they need these minerals to generate warmth.