National Honey Board Accepting Bee Research Proposals

Firestone, Colo., August 30, 2013 – The National Honey Board is requesting proposals for research dealing with honey bee colony production. The goal of this research is to help producers maintain colony health while assuring the maintenance of honey quality.  The NHB is encouraging proposals on Varroa research, but will consider proposals dealing with  Acarapis woodi, Nosema Ceranae, and small hive …

Scientists Shut Down Reproductive Ability, Desire in Pest Insects

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Kansas State University entomologists have helped identify a neuropeptide named natalisin that regulates the sexual activity and reproductive ability of insects. The team is the first to observe and name the neuropeptide, which is composed of short chains of amino acids in the brain of insects and arthropods. The finding may open new possibilities for environmentally friendly pest …

New Pesticide Labels Will Better Protect Bees and Other Pollinators

EPA News Release WASHINGTON – In an ongoing effort to protect bees and other pollinators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed new pesticide labels that prohibit use of some neonicotinoid pesticide products where bees are present. “Multiple factors play a role in bee colony declines, including pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency is taking action to protect bees from pesticide exposure …

Scientists Study Bee Venom Component to Find New Treatments for Disease

Study of melittin-based pore formation also applies to anti-cancer drugs   HOUSTON -- (Aug. 14, 2013) -- A new study by Rice University biophysicists offers the most comprehensive picture yet of the molecular-level action of melittin, the principal toxin in bee venom. The research could aid in the development of new drugs that use a similar mechanism as melittin's to attack cancer …

Highest Winter Losses in Recent Years for Honey Bees in Scotland

Soaring numbers of honey bees died last winter, University of Strathclyde research has revealed A survey, run by Strathclyde academics on behalf of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association, indicated 31.3 per cent of managed honey bee colonies in Scotland failed to survive last winter – almost double the previous year's loss rate of 15.9 per cent. Dr Alison Gray and Magnus Peterson, of …

BEE DIE-OFFS: New Tests Find Bee-killing Pesticides in ‘Bee-friendly’ Plants From Garden Centers Nationwide

175,000 people demand Lowes, Home Depot stop selling “pre-poisoned plants” Friends of the Earth News Release San Francisco – Many “bee friendly” home garden plants sold at Home Depot, Lowes and other leading garden centers have been pre-treated with pesticides shown to harm and kill bees, according to a new, first-of-its-kind pilot study released today by Friends of the Earth-US and allies. The …

USDA Forecasts Record-High Corn Production in 2013

Washington, Aug. 12, 2013 – U.S. corn growers are expected to produce a record-high 13.8 billion bushels of corn in 2013, according to the Crop Production report issued today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The forecast production is up 28 percent from drought-hit 2012. The early planting season was not very favorable for corn growers …

Vita Launches 2013 International Beekeeping Photo Competition

Vita (Europe) Ltd is calling on beekeepers internationally to enter its 2013 photographic competition. There will be cash prizes and beekeeping products for the winners, and the best pictures will feature in the Vita 2014 Calendar. The entries will also be added to the hundreds of honeybee-related photos in the free, online Vita Gallery (www.vita-europe.com/gallery) which is proving highly popular with …