bees

This is the first week in May, when many bees in the U.S. wake up from their winter hibernation and smell the flowers.  Now, you can support these essential pollinators in their search for nectar by participating in No Mow May and letting wildflowers grow on your lawn.  “[W]hen we leave our weeds, or things […]

Most of a shipment of about 800 pounds of bees, or more than 5 million individual bees, that were being sent to Alaska from Sacramento, California died on a tarmac after being rerouted through Atlanta. The bees, not native to Alaska, were being sent to pollinate orchards and nurseries around the state. The bees were […]

Human-raised honeybees are in trouble, and the biggest threat they face is the varroa mite. This is an eight-legged parasite that is smaller than a pinhead, Science explained. It harms bees by feeding on their fat and weakening their immune systems, and also by spreading viruses the bees are then less able to defend themselves against. 

For many people, one rich, pleasant smell signals the start of a new day more than any other: coffee. Different techniques have been used to get the best cup of the caffeine-rich liquid, from a French press to the pour-over method. A unique new study has found that the secret to better coffee is really […]

There’s something comforting and wise about species that have been around for millions of years, like the ancient redwoods and horseshoe crabs, which have existed relatively unchanged since their evolutionary processes were perfected for their niches in the ecosystem. Many people are aware of the importance as well as the plight of bees. You may […]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to approve a proposal to extend the use of four neonicotinoids for the next 15 years. These pesticides are known to be especially dangerous for essential pollinators, like bees and butterflies, and have been linked to the widespread decline of insect populations. Despite citing the pesticides imidacloprid, […]

Playing video games is a fun way to pass the time, but what if you could change the world while you’re exploring virtual universes? As it turns out, there are plenty of games out there for just about every platform, from smart phones to web browsers to game systems, that allow gamers to make a difference. 

Small urban gardens can still make a big difference for bees and other pollinators.  A new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology this month found that the amount of nectar produced by gardens in a UK city was not contingent upon their size.  “Most of the nectar produced in gardens is by a […]