Why do bees have queens? 2 biologists explain this insect’s social structure – and why some bees don’t have a queen at all

A queen’s main job in the hive is to lay eggs and pass genes on to offspring. But many bee species do just fine without queens or big colonies.

Aviva Liebert, Professor of Biology, Framingham State University • conversation
March 4, 2024 ~7 min

Silent fields: a cocktail of pesticides is stunting bumblebee colonies across Europe, study shows

Studies have struggled to capture how pesticides affect bees outside of a lab.

Maj Rundlöf, Researcher in Ecology, Lund University • conversation
Jan. 29, 2024 ~9 min


'Inert' ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought

Inert ingredients are added for purposes other than killing pests and are not required under federal law to be tested for safety or identified on pesticide labels.

Jennie L. Durant, Research Affiliate in Human Ecology, University of California, Davis • conversation
Dec. 5, 2023 ~10 min

Bees and hoverflies are key to growing more fruit and veg in cities -- new research

Maintaining a diversity of insects may be key for crop pollination in cities.

Elizabeth Nicholls, Research Fellow in Ecology, University of Sussex • conversation
June 15, 2023 ~7 min

How bumblebees can help us understand the evolution of human memories

We take it for granted that we can compare multiple memories when faced with a tough choice. But not every animal’s mind works that way.

Yonghe Zhou, PhD Student in Animal Psychology, Queen Mary University of London • conversation
Oct. 18, 2022 ~7 min

Baby bees love carbs, experiments show – here's why that matters

First ever feeding experiments reveal that solitary bees need to carb-load – and can be picky when it comes to dieting.

Elizabeth Duncan, Associate Professor of Zoology, University of Leeds • conversation
April 20, 2021 ~7 min

Feeding experiments reveal baby bees love carbs – here's why that matters

First ever feeding experiments reveal that solitary bees need to carb-load – and can be picky when it comes to dieting.

Elizabeth Duncan, Associate Professor of Zoology, University of Leeds • conversation
April 20, 2021 ~7 min

How colonialism transformed foxgloves – and why hummingbirds might have had a role

We studied how foxgloves taken to the Americas less than 200 years ago have changed compared to natives in Europe.

Maria Clara Castellanos, Lecturer in Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, University of Sussex • conversation
April 13, 2021 ~6 min


How colonialism transformed foxgloves – and why hummingbirds might be the reason

We studied how foxgloves taken to the Americas less than 200 years ago have changed compared to natives in Europe.

Maria Clara Castellanos, Lecturer in Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, University of Sussex • conversation
April 13, 2021 ~6 min

Pollinators: neonicotinoid pesticides stop bees and flies from getting a good night's sleep

Chemicals banned in the EU were recently granted an exemption for limited use in the UK.

Kiah Tasman, Teaching Associate in Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol • conversation
Jan. 21, 2021 ~6 min

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