News tagged with bee colonies

Commonly used pesticide turns honey bees into 'picky eaters'

Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered that a small dose of a commonly used crop pesticide turns honey bees into "picky eaters" and affects their ability to recruit their nestmates to otherwise good sources of food.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created May 24, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Use of imidacloprid - common pesticide - linked to bee colony collapse

The likely culprit in sharp worldwide declines in honeybee colonies since 2006 is imidacloprid, one of the most widely used pesticides, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Apr 05, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (13) | comments 12 | with audio podcast

Pesticides not sole cause of declining bee numbers

(PhysOrg.com) -- Despite a growing worldwide clamor to ban pesticides linked to honey bee deaths, multiple factors contribute to the declining honey bee population, not just one class of insecticides, says Extension Apiculturist ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 20, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria

A novel study of honey bee genetic diversity co-authored by an Indiana University biologist has for the first time found that greater diversity in worker bees leads to colonies with fewer pathogens and more ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Increasing genetic diversity of honey bees needed

(PhysOrg.com) -- Increasing the overall genetic diversity of honey bees will lead to healthier and hardier bees that can better fight off parasites, pathogens and pests, says bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Deadly fly parasite spotted for first time in honey bees

Honey bees can become the unwitting hosts of a fly parasite that causes them to abandon their hives and die after a bout of disoriented, "zombie-like" behavior, San Francisco State University researchers have ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jan 03, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (13) | comments 11 | with audio podcast

Citizen scientists help reveal bumblebee decline

The great British public has helped scientists uncover what looks like a substantial decline in one of the UK's most common bumblebees over the last 20 years.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Dec 08, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Honey bee mystery protein is a freight train for health and lifespan

Why are bee colonies worldwide suffering mysterious deaths? A unique study describes a single bee protein that can promote bee health and solve a major economic challenge.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 29, 2011 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

A widely used bee antibiotic may harm rather than help

Honey bee populations have been mysteriously falling for at least five years in the United States, but the cause of so-called colony collapse disorder (CCD) is still largely unknown.

Biology / Ecology

created Nov 02, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Antibiotic dangers trap bees in a Catch 22

Honey bees are trapped in a Catch 22 where antibiotics used to protect them from bacterial illnesses ravaging hives are making them die from commonly used pesticides, some of which are used to ward-off bee-killing ...

Biology / Ecology

created Nov 02, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Native bees are better pollinators than honeybees

(PhysOrg.com) -- The honeybee has hogged the pollination spotlight for centuries, but native bees are now getting their fair share of buzz: They are two to three times better pollinators than honeybees, are ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Oct 25, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

New research: Are global honey bee declines caused by diesel pollution?

Scientists are investigating a possible link between tiny particles of pollution found in diesel fumes and the global collapse of honey bee colonies.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Oct 07, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (7) | comments 2

Queen bee or worker bee? New insights into famous honeybee society caste system

Scientists are reporting deep new insights into whys and hows of the famous caste system that dominates honey bee societies, with a select few bee larvae destined for royalty and the masses for worker status. ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Sep 21, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Even low doses of insecticides put honeybees at risk

Scientists in France have discovered that honeybees are at a higher risk of dying from infection by Nosema ceranae (N. ceranae) when they are exposed to low doses of insecticides. The results, presented in ...

Biology / Ecology

created Sep 01, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 2

Beekeepers try to stop the pollinator's decline

Andrew Westrich lifted the top from a waist-high wood box in his suburban backyard.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Aug 23, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0