Uncovering the Secret Life of Fungi in Bee Colonies
Studies reveal Aspergillus flavus’s unique adaptations to thrive in the harsh conditions of bee hives, suggesting a potential symbiotic relationship with bees. Previous research efforts…
Bees are flying insects known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the European honeybee, for producing honey and beeswax. They are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea and are presently considered a clade, called Anthophila. Bees are crucial for the pollination of many fruit, vegetable, and nut crops, making them vital to ecosystems and agriculture. There are over 20,000 species of bees, varying in size, behavior, and habitat preferences. Most species are solitary, but some, like honeybees and bumblebees, live in social colonies that include a single queen, many sterile female workers, and some male drones. Bees communicate through a complex language of dances and pheromones, which helps them direct colony members to food sources and coordinate other activities. The decline in bee populations globally due to pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change poses a significant risk to biodiversity and food security.
Studies reveal Aspergillus flavus’s unique adaptations to thrive in the harsh conditions of bee hives, suggesting a potential symbiotic relationship with bees. Previous research efforts…
Bee and butterfly populations are declining in North America due to environmental changes. A study highlights regional trends and calls for improved monitoring and conservation…
Wild bumblebees all over the world need a similar nest temperature — with global warming driving temperatures up, their nests could be too hot for…
A new bee species, Hoplitis onosmaevae, discovered in the French Alps and parts of Turkey and Iraq, exhibits unique ecological adaptations and faces conservation challenges…
Adaptability in the face of limited genetic diversity could be a good sign for threatened species For over ten years, invasive Asian honeybees have defied…
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species radiation of masked bees, which is restricted to the tree canopies of Pacific islands. In 1934, Elwood Zimmerman,…
Recent scientific research conducted by Flinders University has led to the discovery of eight new bee species in the Pacific and has provided fresh insights…
New research reveals that bees produce nutrients that aid in the colonization of their gut bacteria, highlighting a symbiotic host-microbiota relationship and offering insights into…
Fernando Muñiz, a research academic from the University of Seville, participates in a discovery that represents a unique opportunity in the fight against climate change….
Honeybees do not naturally insulate their colonies against the cold, according to new research by the University of Leeds. The results of the study carried…
BeeBCD aggregates global bee data, aiding conservation and research by improving species data accessibility and accuracy for varied ecological applications. A powerful new way to…
A recent study conducted by researchers from Curtin and Flinders Universities reveals that what were previously believed to be two distinct species of native Australian…
To date it has been unclear exactly how the sex of a bee is determined. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) comprising…
Researchers found that buff-tailed bumblebees effectively defend against Asian hornet attacks by dropping to the ground. Despite this, bumblebee colonies still face challenges in hornet-dense…
A new study reveals how we could design robots to think like bees. Honey bees excel in weighing effort against reward and risk, quickly determining which…
A new study reports the finding of hundreds of mummified bees encased in their cocoons from nearly three millennia ago. These preserved cocoons were unearthed…
Scientists from Washington State University discovered that bees evolved more than 120 million years ago on an ancient supercontinent, western Gondwana. The study provides insights…
A new study helps explain the anti-cancer properties of mannose sugar. A study reveals new insights about mannose, a sugar with anti-cancer properties. The research…