Honeybees may be helping spread tree‑killing myrtle rust—new research
We know introduced honeybees as the ever-busy helpers of our gardens, farms and orchards.
Ecology
May 4, 2026
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Page 3: Research news on pollinators
Pollinators are organisms that mediate the transfer of pollen between the male and female reproductive structures of seed plants, thereby enabling sexual reproduction and gene flow within and among plant populations. They encompass a diverse set of taxa, including many insects (notably bees, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles), some vertebrates (such as birds and bats), and other animals that incidentally or actively collect floral resources like nectar and pollen. In ecological and evolutionary research, pollinators are central to studies of plant–animal mutualisms, floral trait adaptation, community assembly, and ecosystem functioning, as well as to analyses of network structure, coevolutionary dynamics, and the stability and resilience of plant–pollinator interaction webs.
Drivers help study road-trip mystery: what became of bug splats?
Long an emblem of the summer road trip, squashed bugs on the car have become less numerous over the years, many people say—causing concern about the health of the world's insect populations.
Ecology
Apr 30, 2026
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Cities rethink beekeeping as honeybee boom may strain wild bees
The rising popularity of urban beekeeping has raised concerns about honeybee well-being and the impact they might have on wild bee populations in cities. A collaborative study by beekeepers, political stakeholders and research ...
Ecology
Apr 29, 2026
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Radioactive imaging reveals ants' secret food networks
Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the University of the Ryukyus have developed a new imaging method that makes it possible to see, in real time, how food is distributed and ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 29, 2026
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Wingbeat radar signatures let AI sort bees, wasps and other insects
Pollinating insects are important for agriculture and ecological flourishing, but they are difficult to monitor, as identification is tricky, labor-intensive, and typically requires killing some insects. Publishing in PNAS ...
Ecology
Apr 28, 2026
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Scientists have discovered the key to conserving the elegant spider-orchid
Scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, CSIRO Darwin Laboratories and La Trobe University have identified key ecological needs of Caladenia formosa (elegant spider-orchid) ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 27, 2026
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Rose pangenome maps 55,000 genes, opening new path for breeding
Roses are among the most economically significant ornamental plants worldwide, with widespread applications in the cut flowers, garden, and cosmetics industries. Yet fewer than 10% of rose species have contributed to modern ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 21, 2026
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Flowering in the city: The bumblebee connection
Why are flowers so different from one another? Much of the answer lies with pollinators: Their preferences and morphologies have helped generate an exceptional diversity of flowers in terms of shape, size, color and scent, ...
Evolution
Apr 20, 2026
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Preserved orchids show pollination has fallen 60% since the 1970s
With their dazzling blooms, orchids are among the most famous and collected flowering plants on Earth. But orchids are not just beautiful and rare. They can also provide clues into the broader health of global ecosystems.
Plants & Animals
Apr 20, 2026
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Mosquitoes reach Iceland for the first time as the Arctic heats up
In what is possibly another sign of climate change, mosquitoes have landed in Iceland for the first time. For many years, the island was the only Arctic country that could claim to be mosquito-free. But that all changed in ...
