(University of Bristol) Tiny, vibrating hairs may explain how bumblebees sense and interpret the signals transmitted by flowers, according to a study by researchers at the University of Bristol. Although it's known that flowers communicate with pollinators by sending out electric signals, just how bees detects these fields has been a mystery - until now. Using a laser to measure vibrations, researchers found …
(Department of Homeland Security News Release) CHICAGO — Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have seized nearly 60 tons of illegally imported Chinese honey valued at more than $200,000 destined for U.S. consumers. The three shipping container loads (195 barrels) of bulk honey smuggled into the United States were falsely declared as originating from Vietnam …
New research by Rothamsted has revealed the different gene mutations that have enabled varroa mites to become resistant to acaricides, including pyrethroids (such as the active ingredients of Apistan and Bayvarol). The findings have also helped explain Vita’s earlier observations about differing patterns of resistance across the world. Tau-fluvalinate is a pyrethroid that can kill vulnerable mites by overstimulating their nervous …
(Courtesy of AccuWeather) AccuWeather Global Weather Center - May 18, 2016 - AccuWeather reports much of Canada is in for a very warm summer this year as extended periods of hot and dry weather grip large areas of the country. The most intense heat will focus on British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, worsening the drought and increasing the risk for wildfires. Meanwhile, the threat …
(Courtesy of the North Carolina State News Services) New research from North Carolina State University finds that bees in urban areas stick to a flower-nectar diet, steering clear of processed sugars found in soda and other junk food. “Urban habitats are growing, as is urban beekeeping, and we wanted to see if bee diets in cities are different from those in rural …
(Courtesy of Joli Winer, Editor, May 2016 The Bee Buzzer, Newsletter of the Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers' Association) Tips for May Check for ticks, they love beekeepers Wear as much protective clothing as makes you comfortable when working your hives. Work hives with slow, smooth movements. Jerky movements agitate the bees. Use your smoker each time you check your bees. Organize your bee …
Two Million Colonies Help Produce Two Billion Pounds of Almonds in California The initial subjective forecast for the 2016 California almond production is 2.0 billion pounds. Forecasted production is 5.8 percent above last year's production of 1.89 billion pounds. Forecasted bearing acreage for 2016 is 900,000. Forecasted yield at 2,220 lbs/acre, is up 4.7 percent from the 2015 yield of 2,120 …
University of Colorado at Boulder Honey bees use their wings to cool down their hives when temperatures rise, but new University of Colorado Boulder research shows that this intriguing behavior may be linked to both the rate of heating and the size of a honey bee group. The findings, which were recently published in the journal Animal Behaviour, indicate that honey bees …