With everything out there that can negatively affect honeybees—and have been, with the USDA saying beekeepers typically lose 44 percent of their hives on average every year—it’s easy to forget that something as simple as a late spring freeze can affect bees just as much as pesticides or pathogens. For instance, honey producers in Virginia…
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With the world’s global honeybee populations seeing various levels of decline and potentially further decreases in the future, scientists and entire governments are researching and seeking ways to improve not only honeybee numbers but also those of native wild bee species like bumblebees. Their importance to crop production is critical, as wild and “domesticated” pollinators…
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Norman Gary, a reported “bee charmer” (his work in movies like “Fried Green Tomatoes” and “My Girl” are some of his most famous), became something of a local legend in his Citrus Heights, CA home. He assisted over 100 movies, commercials, and TV shows with scenes involving honeybees, performed shows with his clarinet and a…
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When people live and breathe a specific subject most days of their week, and especially for their job, it’s not surprising when they go the extra mile to inspire some of that same dedication in others. For Amanda Roe, who is an entomologist and assistant biology professor for Omaha, NE’s College of St. Mary, her…
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By its own account, the Häagen-Dazs ice cream brand started in 1961 under Reuben and Rose Mattus. Innovators of their time, they sought to improve their industry by using the best ingredients to create better products. Beginning with only three flavors, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee, Häagen-Dazs opened its first retail store in 1976. Growing into…
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Many if not all states across the United States have become aware of the many factors that are contributing to the decline of honeybee colonies. Facing threats like pesticides, diseases, parasites, and a lack of land or resources, most experienced U.S. beekeepers are doing whatever they can to produce healthy bees that can help pollinate…
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Scientists continue to seek out the root causes behind colony collapse disorder (CCD), which has been leading to declining honeybee populations for years. Between 2015-2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that beekeepers around the country lost 44 percent of their hives. Many factors have been considered over what is causing CCD, including malnutrition, diseases,…
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As one of the world’s biggest privately-retained software companies, thanks to its focus on analytics software, the influence of the Cary, NC-based SAS Institute cannot be understated. In just 2016 alone, its revenue was 3.20 billion dollars. And with that influence and success, this software developer has decided to take on a new venture but…
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Honeybee populations around the world are struggling to maintain themselves against the threats that would see them decimated. While those threats typically consist of pesticides, diseases, lack of food, or colony collapse disorder (CCD), an unusual threat is emerging against the honeybees of Whanganui, New Zealand. And that threat is turning out to be people…
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The United States, like most countries, largely relies on pollination to grow its food supply, and the most famous of our pollinators is the European honeybee. The funny thing is, for all their importance in feeding Americans, there are no American honeybees. Every species of honeybee, whether a European, Italian, African, or Asian variety, originated…
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Beekeepers around the world have their hands full keeping their honeybee hives healthy and active, especially given the threat of colony collapse disorder (CCD), loss of food sources, pathogens, and pest infestations. Thankfully, proactive efforts are being made on all sides to help these apiarists better monitor their hives. Hivemind, a New Zealand-based “smart hive”…
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As summer approaches, so do honeybee swarms. During this time of year, hives that have grown unsustainably large gather up a new queen and split in half, forcing the new hive of honeybees to relocate and move in a cluster of thousands. While this sight may strike fear into people, the bees are, surprisingly, very calm…
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Alkali bees, ground nesting bees, have evolved into effective pollinators of alfalfa flowers and have become the ideal choice for farms to rely on for pollination of the crop. This solitary species helps the alfalfa seed flourish, providing an economic boost to farm owners. These seeds can eventually be sold for growing hay for cows…
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The Genome of T. mercedesae Researchers have been looking into the genome sequence of mites, specifically the Tropilaelaps mercedesae, to understand their interaction with honeybees and how to best mitigate their ability to harm honeybee colonies. By studying their genomes, researchers are trying to discover how these mites control their hosts. Understanding this mite’s genome…
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Pathogen Patterns By studying the genes of honeybees, scientists may one day better comprehend the diseases and viruses that affect them, specifically how their genes resist. “In the past decade, honeybee populations have experienced severe and persistent losses across the Northern Hemisphere, mainly due to the effects of pathogens, such as fungi and viruses,” says…
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A honeybee hive’s natural environment determines the color, consistency, and flavor of the honey within it. Simply put, honey has terroir, defined as the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to wine by the environment in which it’s made. Anthony Hamilton Russell, who owns the Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South America, directly compares honey to wine because…
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The Decision Aid System The Decision Aid System (DAS), which Washington tree fruit farmers use to predict when tree fruit will blossom, the best fruit size, and the best bee foraging times, is being updated and tested this year by Washington State University (WSU), which came up with the system in the first place. This…
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The Jetai Bee While stingless bees are without stingers, they still have ways to protect themselves. The Jetai bee, a bee species that originates from Brazil, is a great example. The Jetai bees have their own guard bees, which are larger and protect the entrance. These bees remain at the nest’s entrance in order to…
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Not only are bees a key component of our ecosystem, but they’re also extremely intelligent. Specifically, bumblebees have demonstrated an aptitude for learning various activities, including sports. In a recently published study by Science, researchers from London’s Queen Mary University discovered that bees can learn complex tasks we never would have expected—like playing soccer. The team…
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For as long as can be remembered, mites have been a threat to honeybees and their colonies, and these mites include the parasitic Tropilaelaps mercedesae. Research recently published in GigaScience has revealed the genome of the T. mercedesae has been greatly affected by its interaction with honeybees. The research was done by a team at…
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In an effort to give bees the space they need to roam and gather pollen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa is setting aside 1,000 acres of land. During this spring season, at least 188 acres are being seeded with native prairie grasses and wildflower plants, which should prevent invasive weeds while nourishing pollinators. The project has secured…
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Dawn and Mariah Barnett, a mother and daughter duo from Kohala, Hawaii, are helping to save the honeybee population and protect it from being placed on the Endangered Species list, a designation honeybees have been heading for for over a decade. “It’s been about a 30-45 percent honeybee loss yearly in the U.S.,” as per…
DetailsRecently, a group of scientists figured out a form of communication among bees, having decoded a bit of honeybee speech, and they believe the word being buzzed by the bees is “whoop.” Per a study in the journal PLOS One, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) researchers discovered how a specific honeybee vibrational signal, which was long…
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Even though they are so important for our survival and success as a species, we do not really know much about how honeybees originated to begin with. However, a new study by researchers from the University of California, Davis and UC Berkeley have focused on the origin of honeybees in the hopes of finding a…
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A couple in Hurleyville, New Zealand, who became farmers 12 years ago, were just awarded a Taranaki Regional Council award for their environmental dedication and sustainable management of land. Ken and Sandra Sanford, both of whom wish they had started farming sooner, bought their farm with no intention of it growing into the operation it has become.…
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It’s well known that honeybee and other bee populations are decreasing globally and alarmingly quick. Because of the possibility of bee extinction, while very far off, is a possibility nonetheless, researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan are developing pollinating drones since human beings rely heavily on bees…
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Researchers are using small microchips to study the effects of a virus that was once considered to be benign to honeybees but is now known to make them die fast. The virus is another form of deformed wing virus (DWV), and it could be more problematic than researchers thought. “It’s possible that the virus has…
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Down in New Zealand, there lives a young beekeeper named James Malcolm who has dedicated himself to his profession. Malcolm, 28, lives on his worksite of the beekeeping operation he owns, working 12 hour shifts without complaint. He’s been doing this for a while—at least a decade—and he is starting to see all his hard…
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While it’s likely something most people don’t think about, it’s common for honeybees to migrate to and be accepted by other hives. Hives have a unique system for accepting migrant or “drifting” bees that wander into neighboring hives, and they may be allowed to stay if they’re accepted by the nest guards. Morgane Nouvian and…
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Researchers from Texas A&M University have been receiving calls from residents concerned about an increase in bee activity. “It’s unusual this time of year to be getting calls about bee activity, but the warmer-than-usual temperatures this winter have allowed the bees to be much more active than they would be normally,” entomologist Molly Keck said…
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Research into recent hot weather in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia is showing that the weather could lead to far more pest problems for apiarists than originally thought. Dr. Diana Leemon, Queensland’s Department of Agriculture, suggests beekeepers should keep an eye out for the small hive beetle (SHB). These tiny pests could reduce honey…
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For many civilizations, honey has been essential throughout history. Even today, honey is still sought after as a sweetener and as a beauty aid. While not a country many think of when they think of honey, the United Arab Emirates has organized its first honey festival where local beekeepers will showcase many varieties of natural…
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Farmers in the Kyauk Htet Village in Myanmar began noticing the wild bees living around them. “In the past, we only ate bee larvae and destroyed the natural bees’ nests in the forest to take out the honey, but after we attended a training course, we realized bees are beneficial insects,” said Zaw Myo Thein,…
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While many countries have been struggling to maintain their honey industry, Romania has increased its honey production enough to become the European Union’s largest producer. In 2015, Romania produced almost 40,000 tons of honey and 20,000 in 2014, with the second and third largest EU producers being Spain and Hungary, who brought in 32,200 and…
DetailsDuring summer, honeybees are often looked at as pests. However, being a crucial part of agriculture and food supplies, honeybees are miraculous in and of themselves. Considering how important they are as pollinators, here are few things to know about honeybees that may surprise you. No Hibernation Instead of migrating or hibernating through winter months,…
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A recent study by a global agrochemical company, which concluded there was only a low risk to honeybees from the widely used popular pesticides neonicotinoids, has been called “misleading” in new research published by statisticians from Scotland’s University of St. Andrews. Neonicotinoids, also called neonics, may be implicated in honeybee losses and that of other…
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Honeybees have been serving as pollinators for millennia, and today they support a multi-billion dollar agriculture industry. However, honeybee health has never been more precarious. Misuse of pesticides, pests within the hive, and climate change are among the threats they face. Most honeybee populations in the U.S. and Europe are showing signs of stress—that is,…
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that three of the nation’s most popular neonicotinoid pesticides pose risks to commercial honeybees. However, in a recent second decision, the agency refused to restrict the use of any deadly pesticides despite evidence of their harm to pollinators. The EPA analysis indicated that honeybees can be harmed by…
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A chemical that has widely been considered safe and used on various crops has been discovered to make honeybees susceptible to a deadly virus, as per researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “In the lab, we found that the commonly used organosilicone adjuvant, Sylgard 309, negatively impacts the health of honeybee…
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Aarey Milk Colony at Goregaon is home to one of the few Mumbai bee farms. Over 20 years ago, Johnson Jacob came to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu, one of the 29 states in India, to harvest bee colonies, hoping to produce honey as a hobby there as well. Today, Jacob is a 52-year-old beekeeper and…
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