Due to the increased awareness of the struggles on honeybee populations around the world, ordinary people and even businesses are chipping in to help the tiny pollinators get back to some form of former glory. Some people throw fundraisers, call beekeepers when they discover nearby swarms rather than exterminators, and some businesses even host bee…
Details
When it comes to beauty products, many people take cues from their favorite celebrities, who often need to look their best more than the rest of us thanks to the spotlighted focus on their profile. Whether it’s a Garnier or a CoverGirl product—or something completely natural or homemade—a celebrity’s public or subtle endorsement has the…
Details
For those who love the flavor (and those who will after this recipe), coconut cake is a great reward for the end of a long day, a birthday celebration, or for showing off your baking skills. And it’s all the better when it’s Manuka honey coconut cake! Not only is this cake quick to make,…
Details
A skin abscess is basically an infected pocket of pus beneath the skin, and it is also called an inflammatory lesion. Any animal can develop this type of infection, but for hamsters, skin abscesses are typically caused by a bacterial infection from injuries the animal received during a fight with a cage mate or from…
Details
Given that many scientific reports have spoken to the negative effects agricultural pesticides can have on honeybees, it might be hard to imagine that agriculture can actually help bees and their overall health. In fact, researchers from the University of Tennessee’s Agriculture Institute seem to have made discoveries suggesting honeybee heath can improve within the…
Details
All creatures, from human beings to insects, come with their own set of unique genetic variables that have evolved over the course of millions of years to get them to where they are now. As well, honeybees, with their thousands of species all over the world, are remarkably different from one another based on many…
Details
As many well know, honeybee populations in the United States have been declining over the past 20 years. Many factors have been considered as possible causes, including pesticides, diseases, varroa mites, lack of land and resources, malnutrition, and the ever-mysterious colony collapse disorder (CCD). With so many variables working against honeybees, any positive step forward…
Details
There was a recent figure stating there was more honey labelled “Manuka” in the world than could have possibly been produced in New Zealand or other locations where the Manuka bush had been successfully planted. In short, this was a sign there was plenty of fraud going on in the industry, which is unsurprising considering…
Details
Sometimes, people just want to live a little, and this desire usually leads them to try something new and different from their everyday routine. Whether it’s reading that book on the nightstand, taking a long overdue vacation, or simply trying out a new dessert recipe, this kind of indulgence is usually just what someone needs.…
Details
It’s likely no surprise that cats, just like people, can suffer from skin irritations. While these irritations are usually treated using creams and ointments, it’s still possible for an abscess to form on a cat’s skin if the irritation is allowed to worsen or if any bacteria have invaded the skin. Cats can also suffer…
Details
The Manuka honey industry has had much success in the decades since the Manuka bush was considered a mere weed to be plucked from the fields in mainland New Zealand. It’s said to be an industry currently worth 300 million dollars, with the potential to be worth 1.2 billion dollars in the future, says Unique…
Details
Blue orchard bees, unlike their European honeybee cousins, are solitary bees that nest in cavities found in stems, wood, and even synthetic materials like paper tubes or cardboard. While a relatively unknown species, blue orchard bees may present an opportunity for farmers and orchard growers who are seeking an alternative for pollination services involving honeybees.…
Details
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…
Details
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…
Details
There are fewer breakfast options out there as simply sweet and exciting as a muffin, whether it’s blueberry, cranberry, lemon poppy seed, or, in this case, oatmeal apple. Feeling like an acceptable dessert for breakfast, muffins can offer your mornings an extra burst of energy and are often great ways to start your day even…
Details