Tag: Bee

Exposure to neonic pesticides results in early death for honeybee workers and queens.

April 14, 2020

Worker and queen honeybees exposed to field realistic levels of neonicotinoids die sooner, reducing the health of the entire colony, a new study led by York University biologists has found. The researchers were also surprised to find that the neonicotinoid contaminated pollen collected by the honeybees came not from crops grown from neonicotinoid treated seeds, … More Exposure to neonic pesticides results in early death for honeybee workers and queens.

Australian bee sting vaccine trial holds promise against allergic reactions.

January 25, 2020

Most people have probably been stung by a bee and while it can be painful, it’s especially dangerous for the many that are at risk of suffering a life threatening allergic reaction. Australian researchers have successfully completed a human trial on a vaccine designed to eliminate the risk of a severe allergic reaction to European … More Australian bee sting vaccine trial holds promise against allergic reactions.

Bee buzzes could help determine how to save their decreasing population

August 5, 2019

According to recent studies, declines in wild and managed bee populations threaten the pollination of flowers in more than 85 percent of flowering plants and 75 percent of agricultural crops worldwide. Widespread and effective monitoring of bee populations could lead to better management; however, tracking bees is tricky and costly. Now, a research team led … More Bee buzzes could help determine how to save their decreasing population

How honey bee gut bacteria help to digest their pollen-rich diet

July 30, 2019

The honey bee gut is colonized by specialized bacteria that help digest components of the floral pollen diet and produce molecules that likely promote bee health. In a study publishing 12 December in the open access journal PLOS Biology, a group of researchers led by Philipp Engel at the University of Lausanne and ETH Zürich, Switzerland, … More How honey bee gut bacteria help to digest their pollen-rich diet

A Frightening Review of Recent Chemical Company Megamergers, Not to Mention the Thousands of Lawsuits Against the Tragic Effects

July 16, 2019

MARC STEINER: In 2016 I covered the battle by farmers and environmentalists to stop Bayer and Monsanto from merging into one company. The Department of Justice just ruled that the merger of these two corporate giants could take place. You know the name Bayer as aspirin. You might take an Aleve now and then for your … More A Frightening Review of Recent Chemical Company Megamergers, Not to Mention the Thousands of Lawsuits Against the Tragic Effects

As bumblebee diets narrow, ours could too

June 16, 2019

Fewer plants cause developmental delays for prolific produce pollinators. A new study reveals the loss of plant diversity harms the humble bumblebee at a critical stage in its development from egg to adult. There has been a lot of buzz about honeybees’ failing health because they pollinate our produce. Less well known is how critical … More As bumblebee diets narrow, ours could too

Tips to Create a Pollinator Friendly Garden

May 30, 2019

Want to create pollinator habitat in your neighbourhood? Plant native: Choose native plants, trees and shrubs rich in pollen and nectar. Locally grown and pesticide free are best. Provide continuous bloom: Pollinators need a continuous source of pollen and nectar so select a variety of plants that will bloom from spring to fall. Mass plantings: Planting multiples of … More Tips to Create a Pollinator Friendly Garden

Pollination

March 25, 2019

Ungroomed sites correspond with flower pollen-sacs and stigmas After grooming, bees still have pollen on body parts that match the position of flower pollen-sacs and stigmas, according to a study published September 6, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Petra Wester from Heinrich-Heine-University, Germany, and colleagues. Flowers depend on pollen for pollination, and flower-visiting bees … More Pollination

Bee diversity and richness decline as anthropogenic activity increases, scientists confirm

March 24, 2019

Changes in land use negatively affect bee species richness and diversity, and cause major shifts in species composition, reports a recent study of native wild bees, conducted at the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area and its influence zone in Mexico. Having registered a total of 14,054 individual bees representing 160 species, 52 … More Bee diversity and richness decline as anthropogenic activity increases, scientists confirm