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.
It's easy for us to tell if someone is enjoying their meal or not. They lick their lips if they like it, grimace if they don't.
Ecology
Jul 7, 2026
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Bumblebees collect up to seven times the amount of toxic heavy metals as honeybees even when foraging in the same environment, new research from the University of Cambridge has found. Exposure to these metals can affect everything ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 7, 2026
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10
New research proving bumblebees exhibit emotion-like behaviors—previously thought to exist only in mammalian species—has implications for how scientists understand the consciousness of insects.
Plants & Animals
Jul 6, 2026
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29
When we think of bees, we often think of flowers. The more flowers, the better, right? Well, not exactly. Like us, bees need to consume specific nutrients in suitable amounts and combinations.
Plants & Animals
Jun 26, 2026
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11
Bumblebees are only an inch long, but they help power the global food system. Roughly one-third of the food we grow depends on pollinators like bees—and those bees are regularly decimated by pesticides.
Ecology
Jun 23, 2026
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19
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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12
Bumblebees see the world differently under stress, processing visual information more sharply and making quicker decisions, new research from Newcastle University reveals.
Plants & Animals
Jun 21, 2026
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61
New Oxford University-led research reveals that bees can regulate their feeding to avoid overconsuming certain essential nutrients, and that honey bees make a specialist "baby food" that gives their larvae a better-balanced ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 17, 2026
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21
On a blazing hot day in South Africa, female southern pied babblers can't think straight. The medium-sized black-and-white birds are trying to get at tasty mealworms behind a see-through barrier. On cooler days, the birds ...
Ecology
Jun 8, 2026
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14
In a new study, bumble bees solve a completely novel object-manipulation task. What makes this behavior especially remarkable is that the bees had never been trained. The findings challenge the long-standing assumption that ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 4, 2026
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