Scientists say changing climate patterns and rising global temperatures are significantly affecting bee behavior and migration. Researchers have observed earlier pollination cycles, aggressive swarming, and shifts in bee habitats due to extreme weather conditions. Experts warn that disruptions to bee populations could threaten global agriculture and food security, as bees play a vital role in pollination.


Climate Shift Triggers Unusual Bee Activity Across The World 

Bee may possess a hidden superpower that helps them navigate the world with incredible precision. Scientists now believe bees could be sensing Earth’s magnetic field like a natural compass, helping them travel long distances and return to their hives. Researchers say the discovery could reshape our understanding of insect intelligence and animal navigation. The findings also highlight how delicate environmental changes and electromagnetic interference could affect bee populations vital to global food systems.


Researchers Say Bees May Have Earth's Hidden Compass 

A new study has found that bees can count up to six and understand the concept of zero, aided by their unique sensory and perceptual abilities. 


Scientists Say Bees Can Compare Quantities

#Gravitas A new study has found that bees can count up to six and understand the concept of zero, aided by their unique sensory and perceptual abilities. 


Bees Can Count Numbers Up to Six, Understand Concepts of Zero

Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet.

Desperate to keep Varroa out of the country, authorities have destroyed more than 14,000 infected beehives since the tiny red-brown pest was first detected north of Sydney in June 2022.

The government on Wednesday conceded its US$64 million eradication plan could not stop the mite from spreading, saying the country's beekeepers should now prepare to live with the incursion.

"The recent spike in new detections have made it clear that the Varroa mite infestation is more widespread and has also been present for longer than first thought," officials said in a statement.

Australia was one of the last major beekeeping countries to successfully keep Varroa at bay.

Smaller than a peppercorn, Varroa mites attach themselves to honeybees and slowly feast on their body tissue from the outside -- eventually spreading through hives and causing colony collapse.

They are the "most serious pest of honeybees worldwide", according to the Australian government.

Australian National University ecologist Saul Cunningham said the Varroa infestation would also damage agricultural industries reliant on pollination.

"Varroa mite will cause significant economic damage in agriculture, and so it is vital that we focus on adaptation to life with Varroa," Cunningham said.

Australia's native honeybees have proven resilient to Varroa mites but do not currently play a major role in honey production or agricultural pollination.

University of Sunshine Coast researcher Volker Herzig said the "final nail in the coffin" was a government decision that allowed beekeepers to transport their hives across state boundaries to help with pollination.

Every year, some 270,000 beehives are trucked into the state of Victoria to pollinate almond orchards -- an annual pilgrimage billed as the "largest movement of livestock" in Australia.

Herzig said Australia must "now find permanent solutions for managing our beehives", which "most other countries around the world" have been doing for years.

The government's decision was "quite a shock", said native bee researcher James Dorey of Flinders University.

"The impacts of this decision will be felt for decades to come in how beekeepers manage their hives and how farmers pollinate their crops," he said.

"In particular, farmers may not be able to rely on passive pollination from feral honeybees any longer."

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet.

Australia on Wednesday abandoned its fight to eradicate the destructive Varroa mite, an invasive parasite responsible for the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet. Desperate to keep Varroa out of the country, authorities have destroyed more than 14,000 infected beehives since the tiny red-brown pest was first detected north of Sydney in June 2022. The government on Wednesday conceded its US$64 million eradication plan could not stop the mite from spreading, saying the country's beekeepers should now prepare to live with the incursion. "The recent spike in new detections have made it clear that the Varroa mite infestation is more widespread and has also been present for longer than first thought," officials said in a statement. Australia was one of the last major beekeeping countries to successfully keep Varroa at bay. Smaller than a peppercorn, Varroa mites attach themselves to honeybees and slowly feast on their body tissue from the outside -- eventually spreading through hives and causing colony collapse. They are the "most serious pest of honeybees worldwide", according to the Australian government. Australian National University ecologist Saul Cunningham said the Varroa infestation would also damage agricultural industries reliant on pollination. "Varroa mite will cause significant economic damage in agriculture, and so it is vital that we focus on adaptation to life with Varroa," Cunningham said. Australia's native honeybees have proven resilient to Varroa mites but do not currently play a major role in honey production or agricultural pollination. University of Sunshine Coast researcher Volker Herzig said the "final nail in the coffin" was a government decision that allowed beekeepers to transport their hives across state boundaries to help with pollination. Every year, some 270,000 beehives are trucked into the state of Victoria to pollinate almond orchards -- an annual pilgrimage billed as the "largest movement of livestock" in Australia. Herzig said Australia must "now find permanent solutions for managing our beehives", which "most other countries around the world" have been doing for years. The government's decision was "quite a shock", said native bee researcher James Dorey of Flinders University. "The impacts of this decision will be felt for decades to come in how beekeepers manage their hives and how farmers pollinate their crops," he said. "In particular, farmers may not be able to rely on passive pollination from feral honeybees any longer." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia gives up fight to eradicate bee-killing parasite

As we report, Honey bees are extremely crucial for the environment and ecosystem, as are other pollinating insects that many plants rely on to reproduce. A decline in their population should worry us and this is now a reality in Gaza. The Gaza strip is witnessing a major decline in bees.

WION Climate Tracker: Declining bee population in Gaza pose threat to ecosystem

According to a new study, bees organise numbers in increasing size from left to right, validating the hotly contested hypothesis that all species, including humans, naturally follow this path for counting.&nbsp;

According to Western research, youngsters begin organising increasing numbers from left to right in what has been dubbed the "mental number line" even before they can count.&nbsp;

People from cultures that employ an Arabic script that reads from right to left, on the other hand, have been observed to move in the reverse direction.

“The subject is still being debated between those who think the mental number line has an innate character and those who say it is cultural,” said Martin Giurfa, a professor at the Research Centre on Animal Cognition at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France.

Recent research has shown that several vertebrate species, including primates, and newborn humans organise numbers from left to right.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/slashing-meat-consumption-will-help-to-avoid-a-climate-crisis-new-study-claims-528687">Slashing meat consumption will help to avoid a climate crisis, new study claims</a>

Giurfa led a study that was just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that used an experiment on bees to see if the same is true for insects.&nbsp;

“It has already been shown that bees are able to count – at least up to five,” Giurfa told Agence France-Presse.

The two hemispheres of their brains also interpret information differently.&nbsp;According to Giurfa, this characteristic, which they appear to share with humans, maybe the basis for the "mental number line's" existence.

(with inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

According to a new study, bees organise numbers in increasing size from left to right, validating the hotly contested hypothesis that all species, including humans, naturally follow this path for counting.

According to a new study, bees organise numbers in increasing size from left to right, validating the hotly contested hypothesis that all species, including humans, naturally follow this path for counting. According to Western research, youngsters begin organising increasing numbers from left to right in what has been dubbed the "mental number line" even before they can count. People from cultures that employ an Arabic script that reads from right to left, on the other hand, have been observed to move in the reverse direction. “The subject is still being debated between those who think the mental number line has an innate character and those who say it is cultural,” said Martin Giurfa, a professor at the Research Centre on Animal Cognition at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France. Recent research has shown that several vertebrate species, including primates, and newborn humans organise numbers from left to right. Also Read: Slashing meat consumption will help to avoid a climate crisis, new study claims Giurfa led a study that was just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that used an experiment on bees to see if the same is true for insects. “It has already been shown that bees are able to count – at least up to five,” Giurfa told Agence France-Presse. The two hemispheres of their brains also interpret information differently. According to Giurfa, this characteristic, which they appear to share with humans, maybe the basis for the "mental number line's" existence. (with inputs from agencies)

Bees 'count' numbers in increasing size from left to right, study reveals

Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet.

These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction.

Insects like bees, on the other hand, are in grave danger as the climate crisis worsens and their habitats and food sources are threatened by global warming.&nbsp;

According to new research, the climate crisis may result in more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, with potentially "cascading" implications for plant pollination and ecosystems.

Over the course of eight years, scientists in the United States trapped and studied more than 20,000 bees in a region of the Rocky Mountains to see how different varieties of bees reacted to changing climatic conditions.

The authors of the study claimed that while environmental conditions varied from year to year, the sub-alpine region from which they gathered samples was "especially sensitive to climate change," with generally warmer spring temperatures and faster snow melt.&nbsp;

They discovered that as temperatures rose, larger-bodied bees and comb-building cavity nesters decreased in number, while smaller, soil-nesting bees increased.

Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet. These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction.

Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet. These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction. Insects like bees, on the other hand, are in grave danger as the climate crisis worsens and their habitats and food sources are threatened by global warming. According to new research, the climate crisis may result in more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, with potentially "cascading" implications for plant pollination and ecosystems. Over the course of eight years, scientists in the United States trapped and studied more than 20,000 bees in a region of the Rocky Mountains to see how different varieties of bees reacted to changing climatic conditions. The authors of the study claimed that while environmental conditions varied from year to year, the sub-alpine region from which they gathered samples was "especially sensitive to climate change," with generally warmer spring temperatures and faster snow melt. They discovered that as temperatures rose, larger-bodied bees and comb-building cavity nesters decreased in number, while smaller, soil-nesting bees increased.

Study finds climate change could lead to a rise of smaller bees

The bees are tiny insects but they play a big role in keeping the balance in the ecosystem. However, excessive use of pesticides have now put them under threat, our next sport gets you all the details.

Bee population has collapsed in 30 years, deforestation and urbanisation key threats

According to new research, the 2019–20 bushfires had a devastating impact on 11 species of native Australian bees.

The scientists in Australia have analysed the effect of the fires on 553 native bee species. Almost one-third of all species of bees discovered in the country to date. &nbsp;

In the analysis, 11 species are found to be eligible to get listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list of threatened species. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/people-in-this-country-sing-to-sharks-and-then-catch-them-by-hand-417406" hreflang="en">People in this country 'sing' to sharks and then catch them by hand</a>

Before the fires, only three Australian species of bees were threatened. &nbsp;

Two bee species, Leioproctus nigrofulvus or the solitary bee and Leioproctus carinatifrons, now fit the IUCN’s criteria for an endangered listing. During the bushfires, large areas of their native habitat were burnt. Nine bee species were assessed to be “vulnerable”. &nbsp;

Using publicly available data, the researchers modelled the bees’ extinction risk from the wildfires. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/la-palma-volcano-eruption-forces-stay-home-order-for-some-residents-417621" hreflang="en">La Palma volcano eruption forces stay-home order for some residents</a>

An adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide, study co-author Stefan Caddy-Retalic, said it was surprising that a single fire event pushed 11 species of bees much closer to extinction. &nbsp;

Although there are 1,654 known bee species in Australia, the scientists believe the real figure may be more. &nbsp;

“There are so many native bees that are still left to discover – a lot of these species are at risk of being lost before they’re even found, which is an incredible indictment on the impact that we’re having on Australia’s biodiversity,” Caddy-Retalic said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to new research, the 2019–20 bushfires had a devastating impact on 11 species of native Australian bees. The scientists in Australia have analysed the effect of the fires on 553 native bee species.

According to new research, the 2019–20 bushfires had a devastating impact on 11 species of native Australian bees. The scientists in Australia have analysed the effect of the fires on 553 native bee species. Almost one-third of all species of bees discovered in the country to date. In the analysis, 11 species are found to be eligible to get listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list of threatened species. Also Read: People in this country 'sing' to sharks and then catch them by hand Before the fires, only three Australian species of bees were threatened. Two bee species, Leioproctus nigrofulvus or the solitary bee and Leioproctus carinatifrons, now fit the IUCN’s criteria for an endangered listing. During the bushfires, large areas of their native habitat were burnt. Nine bee species were assessed to be “vulnerable”. Using publicly available data, the researchers modelled the bees’ extinction risk from the wildfires. Also Read: La Palma volcano eruption forces stay-home order for some residents An adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide, study co-author Stefan Caddy-Retalic, said it was surprising that a single fire event pushed 11 species of bees much closer to extinction. Although there are 1,654 known bee species in Australia, the scientists believe the real figure may be more. “There are so many native bees that are still left to discover – a lot of these species are at risk of being lost before they’re even found, which is an incredible indictment on the impact that we’re having on Australia’s biodiversity,” Caddy-Retalic said. (With inputs from agencies)

Bushfires pushed 11 bee species towards extinction in Australia

A new study has found that caffeine helps bumblebees to pollinate more effectively.

Due to climate change, wild pollinator populations have been restrained, including bees, moths, wasps, butterflies, beetles and birds. As a result of this, some fruit growers have resorted to relying on “managed pollinators”.

The study was aimed to evaluate whether the bees could be primed to target specific odours.

For this, the researchers concocted a special blend of caffeine, sugar and the specific “target flower” smell.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/world/here-is-a-list-of-the-best-places-to-survive-amid-a-global-societal-collapse-401399">Also read |&nbsp;Here is a list of the best places to survive amid a global societal collapse</a>

Study author, Dr Sarah Arnold of the natural resources institute at the University of Greenwich was quoted by The Guardian saying, "We were interested in seeing whether the bees would go for all of the flowers equally since they were all equally rewarded, or whether they go for the flowers that smell like the ones that they been kind of trained on in the nest".

It was then concluded that the bees that had trained using the caffeine concoction were more interested in the target flowers with the strawberry odour than the distractor flowers.

As per Arnold, this experiment could be a good start to making it easier for farmers to ensure their crop is pollinated.

A new study has found that caffeine helps bumblebees to pollinate more effectively. Due to climate change, wild pollinator populations have been restrained, including bees, moths, wasps, butterflies, beetles and birds.

A new study has found that caffeine helps bumblebees to pollinate more effectively. Due to climate change, wild pollinator populations have been restrained, including bees, moths, wasps, butterflies, beetles and birds. As a result of this, some fruit growers have resorted to relying on “managed pollinators”. The study was aimed to evaluate whether the bees could be primed to target specific odours. For this, the researchers concocted a special blend of caffeine, sugar and the specific “target flower” smell. Also read | Here is a list of the best places to survive amid a global societal collapse Study author, Dr Sarah Arnold of the natural resources institute at the University of Greenwich was quoted by The Guardian saying, "We were interested in seeing whether the bees would go for all of the flowers equally since they were all equally rewarded, or whether they go for the flowers that smell like the ones that they been kind of trained on in the nest". It was then concluded that the bees that had trained using the caffeine concoction were more interested in the target flowers with the strawberry odour than the distractor flowers. As per Arnold, this experiment could be a good start to making it easier for farmers to ensure their crop is pollinated.

Study reveals that caffeine helps bumblebees pollinate more effectively

Bee, News on Bee, stories on Bee, articles on Bee, Bee stories at Wion, Bee news, Bee latest news