pollinators

Bee aware! Signs of a global decline in wild bee diversity

There is more to bees than honey: wild bees ensure efficient pollination of most flowering plants and food crops. Yet a recent study counting the number of...

Honeydew: the sweet that can become toxic

Neonicotinoids kill beneficial insects when they feed on honeydew. Honeydew is the excretion product of phloem-feeding hemipteran insects such as aphids,...

Viruses are spilling over from managed honey bees to wild bumble bees

Viruses, once thought specific to managed honey bees, have now been detected in wild bee species, including bumble bees. Our study tested whether virus...

The busy life of urban bees: a conservation opportunity

Pollinating insects such as bees and hoverflies provide a vital service for many wild flowers and crops. However, there are growing concerns about their...

The use of neonicotinoid pesticides affects wild bee populations

A dangerous habit: bees prefer pesticide-contaminated nectar