https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Honeybees are among the widely studied insects, due to their sophisticated, hierarchical social organization and their essential ecological role. Bees can move swiftly in natural environments, passing through narrow openings and identifying the best paths to reach their destinations without colliding with other objects. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-honeybees-reveal-weber-law-flight.html Plants & Animals Sat, 23 May 2026 13:20:01 EDT news698589412 It may sound too bizarre to be true, but the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a fish that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps in Mexico and Texas, exists over much of its range in populations that are 100% female. In 1932, the Amazon molly became the first known vertebrate to reproduce by cloning itself, producing all-female populations. A new genetic study published in Nature has given scientists insights into the longstanding mystery about how and why this happens. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-asexual-lizards-virgin-births-clones.html Plants & Animals Fri, 22 May 2026 09:40:02 EDT news698661362 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 shows that insects can pollinate plants in the entire city. However, they still require more insect-friendly green spaces. The findings are published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-insects-city-sustain.html Plants & Animals Wed, 20 May 2026 13:40:04 EDT news698497802 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 beneficial relationship known as "invasional mutualism." https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bees-food-source-reshape-destructive.html Plants & Animals Wed, 20 May 2026 09:20:05 EDT news698484781 Scientists at VIB and Vrije Universiteit Brussel have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that helps a widely used biological pesticide become more effective. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how bacteria produce ultra-strong protein fibers that form a molecular net, trapping infectious spores and toxins into a sticky film that enhances their ability to kill insect pests. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-molecular-net-boosts-power-natural.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:14 EDT news698412768 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 in the journal Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, explored why some bumble bee larvae become workers and others become queens, despite coming from the same eggs. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-worker-bumble-bees-baby-bee.html Ecology Mon, 18 May 2026 15:40:01 EDT news698324655 You're cooking dinner, distracted, and your hand brushes a hot pan. Nerve signals race to your spinal cord and back to yank your arm away in a fraction of a second, with no thought required. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-billion-crickets-farmed-food-year.html Plants & Animals Mon, 18 May 2026 15:20:05 EDT news698324411 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 bees to help. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mother-quickly-colony-wont-survive.html Plants & Animals Mon, 18 May 2026 10:20:02 EDT news698317442 Many male hoverflies have bigger eyes than females, giving them the advantage of better optics and faster photoreceptors in high-speed pursuits to find a preferred partner to breed. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-sex-differences-hoverfly-eyes-insight.html Plants & Animals Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:50 EDT news697979761 As married research professors at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dustin Gilbert and Anne Murray often discuss their work once they get home each night. Their fields of study rarely crossover. That changed six years ago, however, and it was insects that sparked the intersection. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bee-magnetism-widespread-species.html Evolution Wed, 13 May 2026 12:27:47 EDT news697894022 Scientists from Trinity and Technical University of Denmark have developed a new radar-based technique that could address a critical gap in global conservation efforts, by transforming how we identify and track the insects that are actually responsible for pollinating plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-bee-specific-radar-tech-identification.html Ecology Sat, 09 May 2026 13:00:03 EDT news697298009 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. The study by researchers from the University of Chester in collaboration with Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd (Deeside), Newcastle University and the University of Sheffield has highlighted how the different roles of female workers and male drones shape their behavior and ability to change in new surroundings. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-task-male-bumblebees.html Plants & Animals Fri, 08 May 2026 10:20:01 EDT news697454281 Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the crops. Every year, these destructive invaders are responsible for the loss of nearly 40% of global agricultural production. A friendly group of fungi, the Hypocreales, form symbiotic relations with plants and naturally protect them by antagonizing pests, acting as their personal biocontrol. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-scientists-fungi-secret-chemistry-greener.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 May 2026 13:20:04 EDT news697363290 New research finds that higher temperatures can actually benefit some bumble bee species—particularly those that make subterranean nests. However, periods of extreme heat appear to offset those benefits, and may contribute to declining bumble bee populations in the southeastern United States. The paper, "Nesting biology shapes climate vulnerability of social bees (Bombus spp.)," is published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-higher-temperatures-benefit-devastate-bumble.html Plants & Animals Wed, 06 May 2026 18:20:07 EDT news697292916 Biodiversity loss is directly threatening human health and welfare, according to new research led by the University of Bristol. The study, published in Nature reveals, for the first time, how the decline of insect pollinators undermines essential ecosystem services that support human nutrition and livelihoods. Biodiversity also plays a vital role in supporting people's everyday health and resilience, too. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-insects-nutritious-crops-pollinator-decline.html Ecology Wed, 06 May 2026 11:40:04 EDT news697284421 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 organized groups, such as bees, ants and some other insects, it can be even more crucial, as it can prevent the spread of pathogens across entire colonies. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bees-viruses-food-sources-dont.html Plants & Animals Sat, 02 May 2026 08:00:08 EDT news696781511 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 institutions, including researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has resulted in the "Urban Bee Concept," which includes measures to foster co-existence between honeybees and wild bees in cities. The study is published in the journal People and Nature. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-cities-rethink-beekeeping-honeybee-boom.html Ecology Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:40:09 EDT news696681229 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 exchanged inside groups of ants. The work sheds light on how social insects organize themselves, and it could eventually help scientists detect early signs of disruption in insect communities that play essential roles in pollination, agriculture, and biodiversity. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-radioactive-imaging-reveals-ants-secret.html Plants & Animals Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:02 EDT news696646429 Scorpions wield some of the natural world's most formidable built-in weapons, from crushing pincers to venomous stingers. Scientists have long known that these structures contain trace metals that strengthen them, but only a small fraction of the roughly 3,000 scorpions have ever been examined for this trait. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scorpions-weapons-fortified-metal.html Plants & Animals Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:10:01 EDT news696586562 In the Philippines, Indigenous communities have been harvesting wild honey for centuries. A new chemical analysis of this honey now provides insights into the biodiversity of the region. "And an additional reason to protect the national tree properly," says lecturer Merlijn van Weerd of the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CML). https://phys.org/news/2026-04-wild-honey-philippine-jungle-reveals.html Ecology Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:09 EDT news696162937 We've run the numbers and the verdict is in: Honeybees do have the ability to process numerical information. New research led by Monash University has now addressed recent international debate over whether bees are truly assessing numbers or simply reacting to visual patterns. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-honeybees-math-upending-animal-intelligence.html Plants & Animals Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:40:03 EDT news696154801 Nature is a riot of color. In the animal kingdom, many species, from insects to cephalopods, use their permanent color or change it for communication, camouflage, and thermoregulation. While this type of reversible shift has been extensively studied, less is known about how the environment may passively affect coloration. In a paper published in the journal Biology Letters, scientists report that sweat bees change color as ambient humidity fluctuates. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-humidity-bees.html Plants & Animals Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:10:01 EDT news696081165 Naked mole rats keep kingdoms underground. One queen bears all the children, while others maintain complex subterranean tunnels, forage for food, take care of newborns, and perform other necessary upkeep. This society hinges on the central pillar of a singular queen. What happens when her fertility declines or is impaired? https://phys.org/news/2026-04-naked-mole-rats-peacefully-power.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:10 EDT news695463721 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 insecticide prallethrin into the air. There has been much discussion in recent years about the effects of this substance on nature and pollinators in particular, but research data has been limited. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-backyard-bug-repellent-derailing-bumblebees.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:20:06 EDT news695464741 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 Sciences. This also has consequences for plant pollination. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-drought-heavy-toll-bumblebees.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:01 EDT news695461261 To save money, Rachel Fordyce parked her car for free at Ithaca's East Hill Plaza and walked through East Lawn Cemetery to her job as a technician in an entomology lab on Cornell's campus. One spring day in 2022, she walked in to work with a jar full of bees. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-beneath-cemetery-million-wild-bees.html Ecology Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:20:03 EDT news695305361 A large-scale experiment shows that warmth brings bees and wasps out of hibernation earlier—leaving some of them with poorer starting conditions. This is particularly true for species in cooler regions that emerge during spring. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-global-hatching-bees-wasps.html Plants & Animals Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:40:01 EDT news695288341 We thought it was evolution, but an experiment with pencils shows that tips like teeth and thorns may owe their rounded shape to mechanical wear. Most of us have been stung by a bee, bitten by an animal, or scratched by a thorny bush. But very few of us have probably taken a close look at nature's painful, pointed tips. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-teeth-thorns-coincidences-universal-nature.html Evolution Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:20:02 EDT news695033521 Researchers at DTU have developed a new method that can reduce the time needed to find new bacteria for fermentation. They have now identified a bacterium that can be used both for acidification and to increase the vitamin B2 content of soya drinks. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bacteria-bumblebees-vitamin-soya.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:20:04 EDT news695038142 Southern California is home to a flying black-and-yellow treasure. While commercial honeybee hives nationwide are collapsing under attack from deadly parasites, a unique hybrid bee found only in this part of the state has demonstrated the ability to survive. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-socal-hybrid-bees-outsmart-varroa.html Plants & Animals Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:01 EDT news695030761