Euglossine bees, commonly referred to as orchid bees, constitute the tribe Euglossini within the family Apidae and are characterized by their predominantly Neotropical distribution, metallic coloration, and elongated glossae adapted for nectar feeding. Males exhibit specialized behavior of collecting and storing volatile aromatic compounds from flowers, particularly orchids, in hind-leg tibial organs, which are thought to function in courtship signaling. Euglossines are key pollinators in tropical ecosystems, mediating highly specific plant–pollinator interactions, often with long-tubed flowers. Morphologically, they possess robust bodies, plumose setae, and powerful flight capabilities, facilitating long-distance foraging and contributing to gene flow among spatially dispersed plant populations.
The honey bee has held a special place in vision research. It is one of the best-studied insects, and much of what scientists know about how bees perceive the world is based on studies of honey bees.
Plants & Animals
Sep 1, 2026
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There is an old saying that nature is the best medicine, and it turns out bumblebees might agree. A new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science suggests that buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) may ...
Bumblebees are able to learn to associate new odors with their colony's queen, instead of being preprogrammed to recognize the queen's pheromones from birth, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. For ...
Ecology
Aug 12, 2026
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7
Biodiversity loss has been among the central topics in public, policy and scientific debate for several decades. While its accelerating pace and impacts are well recognized, translating the vast amounts of biodiversity data ...
Ecology
Aug 1, 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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211
Diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids—a type of fat that supports brain function, cell growth and heart health—may help protect honey bees against the toxic effects of pesticides, according to a study led by researchers ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 28, 2026
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48
Researchers have developed a low-cost, semi-automated, AI-driven method that uses remote cameras to survey bumblebees and potentially other insects. The new tool could have important implications for efforts to conserve declining ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 28, 2026
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What determines which tasks bees perform in their colony? Biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the universities in Cologne and Frankfurt/Main have investigated the role neural activity plays in this ...
Ecology
Jul 20, 2026
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578
Flower-rich road verges may attract hungry bumblebees, but at the same time, they can be dangerous for the buzzing insects—if traffic is too heavy. The new research from Lund University in Sweden examined the role roadsides ...
Ecology
Jul 11, 2026
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91
You may be spotting dead bumblebees lying on pavements near you during the summer months. There are several reasons for this, some related to the weather and some very much due to humans.
Plants & Animals
Jul 10, 2026
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