All articles tagged with #honeybees
BBC Wildlife explains how Japanese honeybees defend against the largest hornet by luring it into the hive and rapidly heating the surrounding air to about 46°C, roasting the intruder in a cooperative defense honed over millions of years on Honshu.
A new study highlights the importance of specific sterols in honeybee diets, particularly 24-methylenecholesterol, which is crucial for brood development. Researchers used genetic engineering to produce these sterols in yeast, creating a potential supplement to support bee colonies during pollen shortages, thereby improving colony resilience and sustainability.
Engineered yeast produces essential pollen sterols, like 24-methylenecholesterol, to supplement honeybee diets, supporting brood production and colony health amid declining natural floral resources caused by climate and land use changes.
A truck carrying 250 million honeybees overturned near the US-Canada border in Washington, causing the bees to escape and swarm, leading to a rescue effort by local authorities and beekeepers to recover and secure the bees, highlighting the importance and fragility of bee populations.
A truck carrying 250 million honeybees overturned in Washington, causing a swarm that temporarily overwhelmed local authorities. Efforts are underway to rescue and contain the bees, with experts emphasizing the importance of quick response and proper planning for such incidents.
Approximately 250 million honeybees escaped after an overturned truck in Washington, prompting rescue efforts by beekeepers and authorities to contain and re-hive the insects, with most expected to return to their hives within 24-48 hours.
Approximately 250 million bees escaped after a truck carrying over 70,000 pounds of hives overturned in Washington state. The bees were released from the hives, and efforts are underway to rescue and re-hive them, with authorities closing the area for 24-48 hours to facilitate the process.
A truck carrying 70,000 pounds of honeybees and hives rolled over in Washington, releasing 250 million bees, prompting emergency efforts to recapture them and warnings for the public to stay away due to potential swarming and stings.
Minnesota beekeepers are experiencing sudden disappearances of honeybee colonies, likely due to varroa mite infestations exacerbated by an unusually warm fall. The mites, which spread viruses among bees, have been a persistent issue, and the extended egg-laying season has allowed them to proliferate. This situation differs from "colony collapse disorder," as the entire hive, including the queen, vanishes. Despite these challenges, beekeepers like Kirk Nelson remain committed to their operations, planning to start new hives in the spring.
Asian honeybees use their wings to slap invading ants away from their hives, a low-energy defense mechanism that effectively sends smaller ant species tumbling through the air, as revealed by slow-motion video research from Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies.
A study by scientists at Nottingham Trent University has confirmed that monitoring the reaction of honeybee colonies to a gentle vibrational pulse can reveal their health and activity levels without the need for invasive inspections. By using an accelerometer embedded within hives, the researchers found that bees' responses to the pulse varied throughout the year, indicating their level of activity and restfulness. This non-invasive method could provide valuable insights for beekeepers and potentially lead to the development of a device for real-time monitoring of honeybee colonies.
A study at the University of Leeds challenges the traditional theory that honeybees naturally insulate their colonies against the cold. The research suggests that clustering, where bees huddle together, may actually cause thermal stress and increase heat loss. The study calls for a revision of beekeeping practices to improve bee welfare and raises awareness about the complex interaction between colony enclosure, thermofluids, and honeybee behavior. The findings indicate that clustering is a survival behavior in response to an existential threat, resulting in increased stress and potential harm to the bees. The researcher urges further debate on the ethical treatment of insects and the need for changes in beekeeping practices.
Researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have identified a key gene, known as Csd (Complementary sex determiner), and the molecular mechanism associated with it, solving a genetic mystery that has persisted for over a century. The Csd gene, which can have over 100 variations, plays a crucial role in determining the sex of bees. When two different variants of the Csd gene are present, a female bee develops, while the presence of the same variants results in a male bee. The study sheds light on the intricate process of bee sex determination and may contribute to advancements in bee breeding.
Beekeepers in the US lost nearly half of their managed honeybee colonies in the year ending April 1, according to an annual survey by the University of Maryland and Auburn University. The 48% loss rate was the second highest on record, but the number of colonies remained relatively stable due to beekeepers using costly and time-consuming measures to create new colonies. Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating more than 100 crops, but parasites, pesticides, starvation and climate change are causing large die-offs.
At least two people, including a police volunteer, were hospitalized after being attacked by a group of aggressive bees in Los Angeles. Experts suggest that the attack could have started when someone disturbed a hive of feral bees. Bees sting to defend themselves or their colony, and their stinger releases an alarm pheromone that attracts other bees nearby. To avoid being attacked by bees, experts advise running away as fast as possible, not covering your face, and not playing dead.