Bees in the News

Scientist Brad Lister returned to Puerto Rican rainforest after 35 years to find 98% of ground insects had vanished. “We knew that something was amiss in the first couple days,” said Brad Lister. “We were driving into the forest and at the same time both Andres and I said: ‘Where are all the birds?’ There was nothing.” Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/15/insect-collapse-we-are-destroying-our-life-support-systems ...
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What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth? Read more here https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage ...
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Dutch scientists say they can create swarms of bee-like drones to take over if the insects die out. It has been recently been claimed that one popular pesticide could wipe out common bumblebee populations by preventing the formation of new colonies. The chemical, thiamethoxam, is said to dramatically reduces egg-laying by queen bumblebees. Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/09/robotic-bees-could-pollinate-plants-in-case-of-insect-apocalypse ...
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"While honeybees have been the prime pollinators for agriculture, diseases like colony collapse disorder are wiping out their numbers, leading to concerns about stability (In the USA). In light of this, many food producers and researchers are searching for backup pollinators, like the bumblebee." This means pesticide restriction is extremely important if we are to successfully "replace" the honeybee with other wild pollinators. In fact, if we could exploit and make money from other insects, maybe that would guarantee active protection for them too. Read more here https://biology.ucdavis.edu/news/social-bee-stortion-exploring-pesticides-effects-pollinators ...
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Dandelions are demonised as one of the most pernicious weeds, but hold back on the mowing and you’ll find a whole range of garden wildlife depends on them for food, writes Kate Bradbury. Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2015/may/12/dandelions-pollinators-wildlife-garden ...
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Extracts from amadou (Fomes) and reishi (Ganoderma) fungi reduced the levels of honey bee deformed wing virus (DWV). Read more here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32194-8 ...
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Glyphosate - the most used pesticide ever - damages the good bacteria in honeybee guts, making them more prone to deadly infections. Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/24/monsanto-weedkiller-harms-bees-research-finds ...
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Bees are still about in autumn - find out how to make your garden a haven for them. Read more here https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/make-your-garden-bee-friendly-in-autumn/ ...
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Two leading scientists have issued a call for massive swathes of the planet’s land and sea to be protected from human interference in order to avert mass extinction. Read more here https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife-protection-national-parks-mass-extinction-earth-national-geographic-society-a8536606.html?utm_source=reddit.com ...
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If we want to avoid extinctions and preserve the ecosystems all life depends on, half of the Earth's land and oceans should be protected by 2050, say biologists. Read more here https://www.newscientist.com/article/2179499-half-the-planet-should-be-set-aside-for-wildlife-to-save-ourselves/ ...
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