(Tufts University) Bee keepers have long relied on several antibiotics that are common in human medicine to treat hives for diseases. Such bee antibiotics were once sold over the counter, but now are available only once a veterinarian has conducted an exam to ensure they’re truly needed. The problem is that “there are not enough veterinarians who know about bees out there to help them.”
(Encyclopedia of Life) Observer cards from the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) are designed to develop the art and science of observing nature. Each set of cards provides key traits and techniques necessary to make accurate and useful scientific observations. Available as an eBook or printable deck. EOL includes the participation of institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Harvard University.
(University of Wyoming) Bumble bees and other bee species are in decline worldwide. “We know climate plays a role… Understanding their temperature tolerance will be really important in determining how they will adapt to changing temperatures.”
(Twitter, Laura Russo @lrusso08) “Senna marilandica is a great example of a buzz-pollinated flower with extra-floral nectaries. The green Augochlorini here are buzzing the flowers, while a diversity of bees, flies, and moths visit the nectaries above #FeedABee”
(EurekAlert/American Chemical Society) Neonicotinoid pesticides continue to be investigated because of their suspected role as a contributing factor in declining bee populations. However, limitations in sampling and analytical techniques have prevented a full understanding of the connection. Now researchers have developed a new type of probe that helps to quantify neonicotinoids in plants and study their movement and distribution throughout the plants over time.
(TriState Livestock News) “We are in year two of a 15-year project to document the 500 to 1,000 species of native bees in Montana.” But to examine all 147,000 square miles of the state would require significant manpower, and to fill that need, an unlikely partnership was created. The researchers put together boxes that included curriculum and bee-sampling tools and sent them to one-room schoolhouses across the state.
(University of Exeter) “To our surprise, our results show it’s very unlikely that crowding of honey bees meaningfully aids the spread of diseases that significantly harm honey bees.” However, the research only applies to existing honey bee diseases – and the findings suggest intensive beekeeping could accelerate the spread of new diseases.
(Twitter, The Xerces Society @xercessociety) “We still need folks to adopt grid cells for @pnwbumblebees! This community science project spans #Oregon, #Washington, and #Idaho. When you choose a grid cell, you’re committing to #hike it at least 2x this summer & report #bumblebee sightings.”