Month: October 2016

Neonicotinoid insecticides linked to wild bee decline across England

October 31, 2016

Exposure to neonicotinoid seed treated oilseed rape crops has been linked to long-term population decline of wild bee species across the English countryside, according to research by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, published in Nature Communications. The research, led by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology using data provided by Fera Science Ltd and … More Neonicotinoid insecticides linked to wild bee decline across England

Nutrition matters: Stress from migratory beekeeping may be eased by access to food

October 28, 2016

In the first large-scale and comprehensive study on the impacts of transporting honey bees to pollinate various crops, North Carolina State University research shows that travel can adversely affect bee health and lifespan. Some of these negative impacts may be reduced by moving bee colonies into patches with readily available food or by providing supplemental … More Nutrition matters: Stress from migratory beekeeping may be eased by access to food

Loss of wild insects hurts crops around the world

October 26, 2016

Researchers from the University of Calgary studying data from 600 fields in 20 countries have found that managed honey bees are not as successful at pollinating crops as wild insects, primarily wild bees, suggesting the continuing loss of wild insects in many agricultural landscapes has negative consequences for crop harvests. Lawrence Harder, University of Calgary … More Loss of wild insects hurts crops around the world

Wild bee decline threatens US crop production

October 24, 2016

Following Obama’s call for pollinator assessment, first-ever national bee map shows much farmland at risk The first national study to map  US wild bees, from the University of Vermont, suggests they’re disappearing in many of the country’s most important farmlands. If losses of these pollinators continue, the new nationwide assessment indicates that farmers will face … More Wild bee decline threatens US crop production

Supporting pollinators could have big payoff for Texas cotton farmers

October 22, 2016

Increasing the diversity of pollinator species can dramatically increase cotton production, according to a new study from the University of Texas at Austin. In South Texas alone, this could boost cotton production by up to 18 percent, yielding an increase in annual revenue of more than $1.1 million. Bee hovers over cotton flower in South … More Supporting pollinators could have big payoff for Texas cotton farmers

Pollinators Help One-third Of The World’s Food Crop Production

October 20, 2016

Pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s food crop production, increasing the output of 87 of the leading crops worldwide, finds a study co-authored by a UC Berkeley conservation biologist. The study is the first global estimate of food crop production that is reliant upon animal pollination. It comes one week after a National Research … More Pollinators Help One-third Of The World’s Food Crop Production

Ornamental plants for conserving bees and other beneficial insects

October 18, 2016

Insects play a vital role in ecosystem health, helping to aerate soil, keeping the natural system in balance, and preventing detrimental pests from taking over essential natural resources, according to the American Society for Horticultural Science. Additionally, insects provide critical biological services such as pollination and biological controls. The authors of a study say that … More Ornamental plants for conserving bees and other beneficial insects

American beekeepers lost 44 percent of bees in 2015-16

October 9, 2016

American beekeepers lost 44 percent of bees in 2015-16 Summer losses rival winter losses for the second year running United States beekeepers lost 44 percent of their honey bee colonies from April 2015 to April 2016, according to the latest preliminary results of an annual nationwide survey. This is a higher overall loss rate than … More American beekeepers lost 44 percent of bees in 2015-16