Traps baited with synthetic pheromone could become solution to invasive Asian hornet
Over the past decade, Asian hornets, predatory insects with a widespread and expanding population, have invaded parts of Europe and Korea. Vespa velutina has a growing reputation as a species that proliferates rapidly, preys on honey bees and poses risks to humans.
Now a biologist at the University of …
A global sampling of honey finds 75% to be contaminated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Of note, the concentrations detected are below the amount authorized by the European Union for human consumption. The situation is more bleak for pollinators, however. Widespread application of neonicotinoids has been identified as a key factor responsible for the global decline in pollinators, particularly bees.
Edward A.D. Mitchell …
Mosquito control products can be detrimental to honey bee health. The EPA is seeking comments on a new program that would release bioinfected male mosquitos to help reduce populations of mosquitos carrying the Zika virus. If effective, such bioremedies could reduce the reliance on pesticides.
report courtesy of the EPA
EPA is proposing to register ZAP Males®, a new microbial biopesticide that …
Certain plant microRNAs slow development to keep workers small and sterile
PLOS
Working model for the cross-kingdom transfer of plant microRNAs in the regulation
of honeybee development. For larvae that are destined to become queens, royal jelly is
fed in copious amounts to drive the development of the royal phenotype. For
worker-destined larvae, substantial quantities of plant microRNAs are absorbed when
consuming beebread and pollen, which …
Courtesy of
Bee Informed Partnership
The National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) recently reported the results of its second honey bee colony loss survey. The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) also recently published preliminary loss results covering the same period. Despite the differences in methodology and sample sizes, these two surveys yielded comparable results. Specifically, we estimate 33.23% losses based on the BIP survey, …
Michigan State University
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Seemingly indestructible Varroa mites have decimated honeybee populations and are a primary cause of colony collapse disorder, or CCD.
Michigan State University scientists have found genetic holes in the pests' armor that could potentially reduce or eliminate the marauding invaders. The team's results, published in the current issue of Insect Science, have identified four …
University of Guelph professor discovered that exposure to thiamethoxam reduces the chances
of a bumblebee queen starting a new colony by more than a quarter.
University of Guelph
Bumblebees are less able to start colonies when exposed to a common neonicotinoid pesticide, according to a new University of Guelph study.
Prof. Nigel Raine has discovered that exposure to thiamethoxam reduces the chances of a …
Innovative Effort Will Showcase the Real-World Impacts of Multiple Best Management Practices for Bee Health
Courtesy of
The Honey Bee Health Coalition, a diverse group of more than 40 organizations working to support pollinator health, announced today the launch of an innovative and ground-breaking demonstration project aimed at showcasing the real-world impacts a series of best management practices have on honey bees …