Bees

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…

The almond industry is calling for state governments to drop border restrictions on beehives from New South Wales for pollination season, but apiarists are worried the risk of varroa mite is too high. Key points:Almost 300,000 bee hives are needed for almond pollination in the month of AugustSouth Australia, Queensland and…

A boom in beekeeping in the Pacific has helped improve yield and quality for more than 30 per cent of the country's pollination-dependent crops, but it comes at an inopportune time as Fiji grapples with a varroa mite invasion and adverse weather events.  Key points:Beekeeping has surged in popularity in the…

Honeybees are fascinating. They make Winnie the Pooh's meal of choice, they perform about 80 percent of pollination worldwide, and one-third of the global food supply relies on them. They are also disappearing due to habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease. Since honeybees play such a crucial role in…

Artist’s impression of bumblebee interacting with flower. Credit: Benjamin and Joseph Tiso Pollinators are less likely to land on flowers sprayed with fertilizers or pesticides as they can detect electric field changes around the flower, researchers at the University of Bristol have found. The study, published in PNAS Nexus today,…

On Hogarth Range, bees are buzzing and Southview Orchard's stone fruit trees are bursting with pink blossoms. Key points:Bees have already pollinated 90 per cent of the peach and nectarine trees at Southview OrchardJohn and Frieda de Kleuver are hoping for a bumper crop this year after a successful pollinationPruning, the busiest…

Small marine critters ferry around seaweed sex cells, the first recorded example of “pollination” in algae The small crustacean Idotea balthica facilitates male gamete dispersal and fertilization in the red alga Gracilaria gracilis. They use the densely branched, bushy red algae for shelter and feed on microalgae that grow on…

Researchers in Western Australia have confirmed a blowfly species to be as good at pollinating as bees.  Key points:A species of blowfly has been found to be as effective as bees in pollinationFurther research is being done on commercialisation and private rollout of using flies as managed pollinators Researchers say relying on…

As demand for crops grows, the pollination services provided by the honeybees managed by beekeepers are becoming increasingly insufficient Life 17 May 2022 By Gary Hartley Members of the Somerset Beekeepers’ Association inspect the hives at their apiary in Somerset, UK MaxWillcock/Bournemouth News/Shutterstock Honeybee populations managed by beekeepers are “far…

A shipment of honeybees bound from California to Alaska died after an airline re-routed them through Atlanta, then left them to sit on the tarmac during hot weather By The Associated Press 29 April 2022, 19:07 • 3 min read About 5 million honeybees bound for Alaska last weekend got…