Arctic Winds to Blast Great Lakes, Northeastern US This Weekend

AccuWeather Global Weather Center - March 29, 2016  - AccuWeather reports a blast of arctic air, combined with gusty winds, will take aim on the Upper Midwest and Northeast this weekend. The polar vortex will briefly drop over the Hudson Bay in Canada. From this position, arctic air will have a direct route into the northern tier of the eastern United States. The main thrust of the …

USDA Seeks Nominees for the National Honey Board

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for the National Honey Board. The National Honey Board is composed of 10 members, including three first handlers; two importers; one importer-handler; one marketing cooperative; and three producers, and their respective alternates. The board is seeking to fill eight positions – one first handler, …

Subfreezing Highs to Return to Northeastern US as Polar Vortex Shifts Southward

AccuWeather Global Weather Center - March 28, 2016  - AccuWeather reports a  southward plunge of the polar vortex will bring a quick blast of arctic air directed at the Great Lakes and northeastern United States during the first week of April. "The latest indications are the core of the coldest air associated with the polar vortex will track a bit farther north and east, compared …

Blizzard to Threaten Travel Shutdowns in Central US This Week

AccuWeather Global Weather Center - March 22, 2016  - AccuWeather reports a  storm will deliver heavy snow from Colorado to Michigan, with the potential for blizzard conditions in part of the north-central United States, during Wednesday and Thursday. The storm will hit hard and fast from the eastern slopes of the Rockies to the Great Lakes region. The storm will bring major disruptions to travel, …

Why Do Pollinators Forage on Toxic or Bitter-Tasting Nectar?

by Kathy Keatley Garvey UC Davis Dept. of Entomology and Nematology   UC Davis community ecologist Rachel Vannette has discovered why pollinators continue to forage on “toxic” or bitter-tasting nectar, despite what should be a deterrent. In newly published research in the journal Ecology, Vannette noted that floral nectar is produced by many plants to reward pollinators, but this sugary secretion often contains chemical …

Study Finds Larger Colonies of Social Insects Have Weaker Immune Response, Highlights Role of Hygiene

North Carolina State University Researchers have found that the larger the colony size associated with a eusocial insect species, the weaker its immune response. For example, honey bees (Apis mellifera) form large colonies and exhibit complex group behaviors - and they had a significantly less pronounced immune response than sweat bees like the one pictured here (Halictus ligatus), which live in much smaller groups. Credit: …