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…
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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.…
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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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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…
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If dog owners are lucky during the course of their animal’s life, they never have to deal with sickness or an infection or worry about their animal best friend’s health. We can all, as they say, hope for the best, but it’s also smart to prepare for anything. Sometimes, our pets get sick, and while…
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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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