Bees are fascinating creatures that rely heavily on their eyesight to navigate their environment and carry out important tasks. Their eyes are uniquely adapted to help them find flowers, communicate with other bees, and avoid predators. In this article, we’ll explore the science behind bee eyes and how they contribute to the survival of these…
Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) is a significant threat to honeybee populations worldwide. It causes severe deformities in the wings of infected honey bees, and ultimately leads to their death. This highly contagious virus is primarily transmitted by the parasitic Varroa destructor mite. The varroa mite infests honeybee colonies and feeds on bee hemolymph. In healthy,…
Bee worker pheromones play a critical role in hive organization and productivity. Worker bees rely heavily on pheromones to communicate and coordinate their hive’s activities. These chemical signals act as a cohesive force, enabling bees to divide and execute tasks efficiently. The hive’s social organization is highly intricate, with each bee assuming a specific role…
Queen Pheromones The honey bee queen’s important role in regulating colony functions is achieved through primer pheromones. These pheromones, collectively known as the “queen signal,” are produced by various glands and induce physiological and behavioral changes in worker bees. The queen signal maintains the social hierarchy, upholds the queen’s reproductive dominance, and ensures the colony’s…
Have you ever wondered how a queen bee manages to organize her colony? The answer is queen pheromones, the most advanced form of communication in social insects. Pheromones are chemical substances bees secrete from their exocrine glands. When released into the environment they change the behavior and physiology of fellow bees. They play a crucial…
Bee Vectoring Technologies, a Canadian team of innovators, uses bees for pest and disease control. The company was recognized with awards for their revolutionary approach in precision application technology and biocontrol. Their groundbreaking idea involved using bees to transfer biological control substances to plants, providing natural protection against diseases and pests. The innovative method of…
Washington University in St. Louis has conducted research on the potential use of bee venom to destroy the HIV virus. The study discovered that nanoparticles containing bee venom toxins can destroy HIV cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Researchers discovered a revolutionary method that can potentially help fighting the spread of HIV in areas with…
Do all Bees have Stingers? In most bee species like honey bees only the female bees, i.e. workers and queens have a bee stinger. Drones or male bees do not possess stingers. The bee stinger is mainly used to defend the hive and themselves. However, there are species of stingless bees like the Melipona bees,…
The Science Behind Bee Wings: How They Work and What They Do Bee wings are a marvel of nature, allowing these tiny insects to fly and perform essential tasks like pollination. But there is more to these delicate appendages than meets the eye. In this guide, we’ll explore the anatomy and function of bee wings,…
Bumblebee queen vs Honey bee queen – Are they the same? The world knows honeybees and bumblebees as the most widely known bee species. It is often assumed that these two species share a similar way of life or that what applies to honey bees is also true for bumblebees. However, their differences are fascinating….