Estimating our chances of surviving in the absence of the extraordinary pollinator. Last week, there was more bad news regarding honeybees. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, this year saw a 42 percent loss of honeybees in managed colonies, the kind that beekeepers rent to farmers. The majority of the headlines focused on that figure, but there was more … [Read more...] about A World Without Bees? What Will Happen If Bees Extinct?
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Japanese Shrine Builds Special Water Haven for Bees to Retain Hydration
Our planet benefits from bees in countless unique ways. They have exemplary work ethics and management abilities, and who doesn't enjoy a tasty dollop of honey? These unique insects experience the heat of hard labour in everything they do to pollinate our plants, just like we do. Fortunately, there are some sympathetic individuals working to maintain proper hydration for our … [Read more...] about Japanese Shrine Builds Special Water Haven for Bees to Retain Hydration
Bees Create More Friends When They Have a Healthy Stomach Bacteria
Humans have hundreds of germ species in their guts—most bees have just nine. Look inside the guts of a honeybee worker from practically anywhere on the planet, and you'll most certainly find only nine species of bacteria. The amazing constancy of this microbial bundle across the planet—similar across species, including sociable bumblebees—indicates that bacteria play a … [Read more...] about Bees Create More Friends When They Have a Healthy Stomach Bacteria
In Case of Extreme Heat, Bees Ejaculate Themselves to Death
It turns out that when drones die in intense heat, their last move is to ejaculate out a section of their own abdomen, so if you've ever seen a dead bee that looks like it has partly exploded, there's a strong chance it died a more NSFW death than you're envisioning. Dr. Alison McAfee, a postdoctoral scholar at UBC's Michael Smith Laboratories and an authority on bee health, … [Read more...] about In Case of Extreme Heat, Bees Ejaculate Themselves to Death
Surprisingly, Bees Top The List of The Most Lethal Venomous Creatures in Australia
Australia has a reputation for being a land full with creatures who want you dead. While you may think to be more concerned with snakes than anything else down under, it appears that you should be more concerned about the skies. A recent study that looked at which poisonous animals bit and stung the most individuals in Australia over a 13-year period discovered that bees and … [Read more...] about Surprisingly, Bees Top The List of The Most Lethal Venomous Creatures in Australia