Category: Bumblebee

Big bumble bees learn locations of best flowers, new research shows.

February 9, 2021

Meanwhile smaller bumblebees — which have a shorter flight range and less carrying capacity — don’t pay special attention to flowers with the richest nectar. University of Exeter scientists examined the “learning flights” which most bees perform after leaving flowers. Honeybees are known to perform such flights — and the study shows bumblebees do the … More Big bumble bees learn locations of best flowers, new research shows.

Does city life make bumble bees larger?

January 16, 2021

Does urbanisation drive bumblebee evolution? A new study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig provides an initial indication of this. According to the study, bumblebees are larger in cities and, therefore, more productive than their rural counterparts. In Evolutionary Applications, the research team reports that differences … More Does city life make bumble bees larger?

Tom Kruesel writes in: “As an urban beekeeper,

January 9, 2021

Tom Kruesel writes in: “As an urban beekeeper, I can see some validity in the concern over competition between honeybees and native bees and wasps. (Many of which are also pollinators.) However, my personal experience has been the exact opposite. When I started keeping bees, I also started planting massive amounts of flowers in my yard and on the city boulevard. … More Tom Kruesel writes in: “As an urban beekeeper,

Sugar-poor diets wreak havoc on bumblebee queens’ health. Without enough sugar in their diets, bumblebee queens can experience difficulty reproducing and shorter lifespans.

December 17, 2020

Hollis Woodard, assistant professor of entomology at UCR, has conducted multiple studies showing how loss of plant availability negatively affects the prolific pollinators. Previous research indicates a queen’s diet can impact how quickly her brood develops, or whether she’s able to live through hibernation. In a study published today, Woodard and her team demonstrate that … More Sugar-poor diets wreak havoc on bumblebee queens’ health. Without enough sugar in their diets, bumblebee queens can experience difficulty reproducing and shorter lifespans.