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.
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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What renders a city garden attractive to insects such as solitary bees, bumblebees and hoverflies? And how well do they pollinate plants in urban areas? A study by the Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape ...
Plants & Animals
May 20, 2026
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New research published in NeoBiota has found that the Western honey bee—an introduced species to Australia—and the devastating, invasive plant fungus known as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) may have formed a mutually ...
Plants & Animals
May 20, 2026
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Every bumble bee colony has a queen, but a new study led by researchers at Penn State suggests the process of determining which baby bee reigns supreme may be less monarchal than the royal title suggests. The study, published ...
Ecology
May 18, 2026
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Being a single mother of 20 is no joke, especially if the survival of a whole species depends on it. A queen bumblebee faces this very challenge when she lays her first eggs in the spring: She is utterly alone, with no worker ...
Plants & Animals
May 18, 2026
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Male bumblebees are more active and flexible in behavior than female bees, new University of Chester–led research has found, after creating tasks to analyze how the insects explore, recognize colors and learn to earn rewards. ...
Plants & Animals
May 8, 2026
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The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in ...
Bruce the kea is missing his entire upper beak. Yet he is the alpha bird of his circus (the apt collective noun for a group of New Zealand's famously playful alpine parrots).
Plants & Animals
Apr 21, 2026
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In the summer, many people turn to mosquito repellents to reduce the insects' buzzing and bites. One solution that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the Thermacell device, which releases vaporized, pyrethroid-based ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 15, 2026
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Drought significantly reduces the reproductive success of bumblebee colonies, according to a new study conducted by a research team at the University of Würzburg and published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 15, 2026
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