Apiculture is the human-managed practice of maintaining honey bee (primarily Apis mellifera) colonies for the purposes of pollination services, hive products, and research. It encompasses the design and operation of artificial nesting systems (hives), colony reproduction management (e.g., swarming control, queen rearing, and genetic selection), nutritional supplementation, and health management targeting parasites, pathogens, and environmental stressors. As a human activity, apiculture interfaces with agricultural systems, landscape management, and biosecurity regulation, and provides an experimental framework for studying social insect biology, ecotoxicology, and the impacts of climate and land-use change on pollinator populations.
For decades, Australia was the last inhabited continent free of the bee-killing Varroa mite (Varroa destructor).
Ecology
Aug 18, 2026
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Strict regulations have prevented continental U.S. beekeepers from participating in the lucrative organic honey market, but new research finds that bees' actual habits make certain rules too extreme. The findings potentially ...
Ecology
Aug 1, 2026
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During the winter of 2025–2026, 24% of Dutch honeybee colonies were lost. The upward trend observed in recent years therefore continues. This is the fourth consecutive year in which winter mortality has exceeded 20%. The ...
Ecology
Jul 11, 2026
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A study by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) has highlighted the impact Varroa mites will have on crop pollination in Tasmania if the parasitic mites become established in the state. The study was prompted by the ...
Ecology
Jul 8, 2026
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Spider venoms contain ingredients that could lead to a new treatment to protect honeybees from the deadly Varroa destructor mite, according to a study led by the University of the Sunshine Coast. Researchers identified components ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 2, 2026
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Researchers have identified "DNA switches" that become active as honeybee larvae grow into worker bees, offering new insight into the development of these important pollinators and the ecosystems they support.
Ecology
Jun 23, 2026
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The honeybee mite, Varroa destructor, finally breached Australia's biosecurity defenses four years ago, and is here to stay. Even more concerning, our standard treatments—such as specialized pesticides—are already failing.
Ecology
Jun 22, 2026
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America's bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need its help most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a 6,500-acre agricultural research ...
Ecology
May 26, 2026
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There is not yet much research on the effects of heat waves on bees. What little there is focuses on super extremes of weather that would kill an adult bee.
Ecology
May 26, 2026
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Beekeepers and their honeybees can be invaluable participants in environmental surveys, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Jennifer Shelton of the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology and colleagues.
Plants & Animals
May 20, 2026
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