Bees

Paleontologists have screened 24-million-year-old fossil flowers and bees from the Late Oligocene of Enspel, Germany, and identified a new species of linden, Tilia magnasepala, as well as two new bumblebee species, Bombus (Kronobombus) messegus and Bombus (Timebombus) palaeocrater. The presence of the same Tilia pollen in flowers and adhering to…

Did you know that one in three food items you eat is dependent on the pollination of a bee?  Picture yourself walking down the fruit and veggie aisle at your local supermarket, looking at the apples, tomatoes, avocados, and cherries you will likely put in your trolley. Even the lemons…

Bees play a vital role in pollination and ecosystems, but not all are the gentle garden visitors we imagine. Some bees—and wasp-like relatives—pack a powerful sting, show extreme aggression, or defend their nests with deadly force. Whether it’s their painful venom, swarming behavior, or territorial nature, these species are not…

Healthier honey bees could help increase crop yields by improving pollination efficiency. Scientists have developed a new food source capable of sustaining honey bee colonies indefinitely without the need for natural pollen. Published on April 16 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study from Washington State…

New research shows flies can tolerate temperatures 2.3°C lower than bees before losing motor function, making them particularly vulnerable to climate change and raising concerns about their crucial role as the world’s second most important pollinators. The study, conducted across three countries, reveals that flies’ sensitivity to heat is especially…

Almond growers have warned that without an end to restrictions on bee movements from New South Wales, the sector could face a shortage of pollinators and potential low yields. NSW beekeepers have been restricted from moving their hives interstate since 2022 due to the incursion of varroa mite. Almond growers…

The combination of honey bees and mason bees as pollinators yields a much bigger harvest than with only one species. Credit: Julia Osterman To obtain the biggest cherry harvest, trees should be pollinated by both honey bees and mason bees. A new study led by a researcher at the University…

Bees work in their hive in Isokyro, western Finland, Sept. 11, 2022. —AFP/fileA truck carrying five million bees overturned on a road near Toronto, Ontario, prompting police to warn drivers to keep their car windows closed. The bee crates fell off the truck in Burlington, Ontario, at around 6:15 am…

Warmer springs are causing British bees to wake up earlier, a new study has found, threatening the pollination of crops such as apples and pears. The research – which is believed to be the largest of its kind in Great Britain – found that for every 1 degree Celsius rise…

When it comes to the critical process of pollination, butterflies and especially bees are typically the most lauded participants. These pollinators fly from flower to flower to feed and fertilize plants by spreading pollen around. But, these fluttery creatures are far from the only species that help flowers reproduce and…