Tag

Bees

All articles tagged with #bees

science6 hours ago•8 min saved

Nectar with a Buzz: Ethanol Found in Flowers Used by Pollinators

UC Berkeley researchers found ethanol in the nectar of 26 of 29 plant species, meaning bees and hummingbirds regularly ingest tiny amounts of alcohol as they forage; most levels are trace, with one sample at about 0.056% ethanol. For hummingbirds, this could amount to roughly the equivalent of a human one alcoholic drink per day; experiments show they tolerate modest alcohol but avoid higher concentrations, and feathers contain a metabolite indicating alcohol processing. The findings suggest dietary ethanol is widespread and may subtly affect pollinator behavior, with ongoing studies comparing intake across species.

via SciTechDaily|

#bees #ethanol #hummingbirds

environment9 days ago•4 min saved

Warm Winters Push North American Bee Swarms Forward, Upending Beekeeping

North America’s 2026 bee swarm season began about 17 days earlier than last year, a shift linked to unusually warm winters and climate-driven changes in flowering that are accelerating bee activity; this follows years of record colony losses and, compounded by resilient varroa mites and competition with wild bees, raises concerns for pollination-dependent agriculture valued at roughly $15 billion and is prompting beekeepers to rethink seasonal management.

via The Guardian|

#beekeeping #bees #climate-change

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Millions of Ground-Nesting Bees Discovered Under a New York Cemetery

Cornell researchers estimated 3–8 million Andrena regularis bees living underground beneath East Lawn Cemetery near Cornell Orchards, using emergence traps to count and arriving at 5.5 million as a midpoint. The finding underscores how cemetery grounds can host massive, understudied ground-nesting bee populations and highlights how nearby orchards provide forage, reinforcing cemeteries as biodiversity hotspots.

via Indian Defence Review|

#andrena-regularis #bees #biodiversity

science1 month ago•9 min saved

Underground Empire: 5.5 Million Bees Nest in a New York Cemetery

Researchers counting 3–8 million bees at East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, NY, estimate an average population of 5.5 million ground-nesting Andrena regularis. Using emergence traps over ~6,000 square meters, the study found males emerge first in April and highlighted nearby Cornell Orchards and sandy soil as key factors supporting this large, pesticide-free population. The work underscores cemeteries as biodiversity hotspots and pollinator habitats, and it launches a global citizen-science effort to document other ground-nesting bee populations.

via SciTechDaily|

#andrena-regularis #bees #biodiversity

science1 month ago•12 min saved

Hidden bee metropolis: millions of ground-nesting bees under an Ithaca cemetery

Cornell researchers estimate 5.5–5.6 million ground-nesting bees live under East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York, based on spring 2023 emergence traps, making it one of the largest bee aggregations on record. The population consists of many individual nests rather than a single colony, with bees overwintering underground and emerging in spring thanks to undisturbed soil, minimal pesticides, and nearby flowering plants.

via The Independent|

#bees #cemetery #cornell-university

animals1 month ago•18 min saved

Millions of ground-nesting bees found thriving beneath a cemetery

Scientists discovered a massive underground colony of ground-nesting bees (Andrena regularis) beneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York, estimating 3.1 to 8 million bees emerged in a single season—enough activity to rival hundreds of honeybee hives—highlighting the crucial role of solitary bees in pollination and biodiversity and underscoring cemeteries as overlooked habitats that deserve protection; the study notes low parasitism and timing patterns in bee emergence that aid survival.

via Earth.com|

#andrena-regularis #animals #bees

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Underground Bee Megacity Discovered Beneath Ithaca Cemetery

Researchers from Cornell estimated about 5.56 million ground-nesting Andrena regularis bees emerging from a 6,500 square meter area beneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York—one of the largest bee aggregations on record—highlighting how undisturbed soil in cemeteries can support abundant, often overlooked pollinators.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#andrena-regularis #bees #ground-nesting

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Ithaca cemetery hides a 5.5-million-bee underground city

Researchers find Ithaca’s East Lawn Cemetery hosts about 5.5 million Andrena regularis ground-nesting bees—one of the world’s largest known aggregations—estimated using emergence traps. The study, highlighting cemeteries as biodiversity refuges and the importance of wild pollinators for crops, also details emergence timing, brood parasitism by nomad bees, and a new global citizen-science project to document such aggregations.

via Cornell Chronicle|

#andrena-regularis #bees #biodiversity

gardening3 months ago•59 min saved

Meet the 12 Birth Month Bees and How to Welcome Them to Your Garden

A Homes & Gardens guide lists one birth-month bee for each month, with identification tips and practical ways to support them year-round—plant nectar-rich flowers, provide nesting sites like bee hotels or bare ground, and maintain wildlife-friendly habitat—plus product picks to boost pollinator gardens.

via Homes and Gardens|

#bees #birth-month-bees #gardening

kids-questions5 months ago•0 min saved

Kids' Quiz: Do Bees Have Bums and How Do Boats Float?

A children's quiz features questions from kids about bees, boats, early houses, treats, and sharks, hosted by Molly Oldfield, who also has related books and a podcast answering children's curiosities.

via The Guardian|

#bees #boats #childrens-questions

science5 months ago•6 min saved

Ancient Bee Nests Revealed in Fossilized Bones and Owl Remains

Researchers discovered ancient bee nests inside fossilized bones in a Caribbean cave, revealing a previously unknown behavior of nesting in bones and caves, dating back around 20,000 years, which expands understanding of bee ecology and adaptation.

via CNN|

#bees #caribbean #cave

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Bumblebees Learn to Understand and Use Morse Code

Scientists have discovered that bumblebees can process the duration of light flashes to make foraging decisions, marking the first evidence of such complex time perception in insects, which challenges previous beliefs about insect simplicity and highlights their cognitive abilities.

via CNN|

#bees #behavioral-study #insect-cognition

science6 months ago•1 min saved

Scientists Discover 'Lucifer' Bee with Devil-Like Horns in Australia

Scientists have discovered a new bee species named 'Lucifer' due to distinctive horn-like structures on females, which may serve as defense mechanisms. The name was inspired by the Netflix series Lucifer, and the discovery highlights the importance of bee conservation and understanding biodiversity.

via The Daily Beast|

#bees #conservation #hymenoptera

science6 months ago•1 min saved

Australia's New 'Lucifer' Bee with Devilish Horns Discovered

Scientists in Australia discovered a new bee species, Megachile lucifer, with devil-like horns, named after the Netflix show Lucifer. The species was found in Western Australia and is the first new bee in its group in over 20 years. Its horns may serve functions like accessing flowers or defending nests. The discovery underscores the importance of studying native bees, which are under threat from habitat loss and climate change, with many species still undescribed.

via NBC News|

#australia #bees #conservation

science6 months ago•1 min saved

New Horned 'Devil' Bee Discovered in Western Australia

Australian scientists discovered a new native bee species with devil-like horns, named Lucifer, found in Western Australia's Bremer Ranges. The female bee's horns may serve various functions, and the discovery highlights the need for habitat protection and better understanding of native pollinators to prevent the loss of endangered plants and ecosystems.

via BBC|

#australia #bees #conservation