Wild bees in Europe are in trouble — more than 50 percent of local species are now classified as endangered. Recent findings indicate that, in farming areas, species that emerge in late summer are most acutely threatened. The pollination services provided by wild bees are indispensable, not only for ecological but also for eminently economic … More Insects in decline: On farmland, latecomers lose out.
Breakthrough could aid development of bee-friendly pesticides. Efforts to create pesticides that are not toxic to bees have been boosted by a scientific breakthrough. A joint study by the University of Exeter, Rothamsted Research and Bayer AG has discovered the enzymes in honeybees and bumblebees that determine how sensitive they are to different neonicotinoid pesticides. The … More Breakthrough could aid development of bee-friendly pesticides.
The UK’s first citizen science project focusing on solitary, ground-nesting bees has revealed that they nest in a far broader range of habitats than previously thought. There are approximately 250 species of solitary bee in the UK, but far less is known about these important pollinators compared to honeybees or bumblebees. Although some previous studies … More Study sheds light on ‘overlooked’ bee species.
Rob Kesseler & Madeline Harley Foreword by Sir Peter Crane The extraordinary beauty and structure of pollen grains invisible to the naked eye. 200 x 220 mm 264 pages Hardback ISBN: 978-1-906506-51-3 £20.00 IPPY Gold Medal 2006 – Outstanding Book of the Year: Most Original Design Subjects: Nature, Photography First published ten years ago, this … More Pollen: The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers.
Adjuvants not as benign as previously thought A new article reveals that adjuvants, chemicals commonly added to pesticides, amplify toxicity affecting mortality rates, flight intensity, colony intensity, and pupae development in honey bees. Adjuvants are chemicals that are commonly added to plant protection products, such as pesticides, to help them spread, adhere to targets, disperse … More Pesticides deliver a one-two punch to honey bees.
Mycelium extract reduces viruses in honey bees A mushroom extract fed to honey bees greatly reduces virus levels, according to a new paper from Washington State University scientists, the USDA and colleagues at Fungi Perfecti, a business based in Olympia, Washington. In field trials, colonies fed mycelium extract from amadou and reishi fungi showed a … More Fungus provides powerful medicine in fighting honey bee viruses.
Honey bees spend hours each day collecting pollen and packing it into tidy bundles attached to their hind legs. But all of that hard work could instantly be undone during a sudden rainstorm were it not for two substances the insect uses to keep the pollen firmly stuck in place: bee spit and flower oil. … More Adhesive formed from bee spit and flower oil could form basis of new glues.
