honeybees news stories on Newser

New Studies Blame Pesticides for Bee Decline

Matt Cantor — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:19:05 CDT

Scientists have a new lead in the mystery of the disappearing bees . While pesticides had only a "trivial" effect on honeybee populations in lab experiments, a researcher says studies in natural settings have shown that the chemicals can have "big effects," reports the Guardian . Common pesticides known as neonicotinoids appear...

Bees Might Have Personalities

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 07:35:05 CST

Bees are not merely mindless, mechanical insects with rigid behavior patterns. They may actually exhibit personalities and feelings. A new study from the University of Illinois reveals that some bees display a higher willingness to head off on adventures than others, which can be interpreted as a personality trait, reports...

Tiny Fly May Help Explain Honeybee Die-Off

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:21:43 CST

Northern California scientists say they have found a possible explanation for a honeybee die-off that has decimated hives around the world: A parasitic fly that hijacks the bees' bodies and causes them to abandon hives. Scientists say the fly deposits its eggs into the bee's abdomen, causing the infected bee...

Why Bee Trucks Keep Crashing

Matt Cantor — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:52:05 CDT

A truck packed with 25 million bees crashed in Utah today , only a few months after a smashed-up semi released 14 million bees Idaho. And last year, a Minnesota crash saw 17 million bees fly flee. Why so many incidents? LiveScience explains: As a mysterious bee epidemic continues to decimate...

Angry Bees Send 4 to Calif. Hospital

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:11:15 CDT

Bees are on the warpath again. Thousands of the angry stingers swarmed four men in a Southern California storage yard yesterday, sending them all to the hospital. The attack began when a man in a wheelchair somehow disrupted a hive. He was stung more than 60 times and had tumbled...

Honeybee Killer Finally Found

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:30:34 CDT

For years, experts have been trying to figure out what is killing all the honeybees—and they may finally have an answer. Since 2006, 20% to 40% of US bee colonies have collapsed, and suspected causes have included genetically modified corn , pesticides , and bad weather . New research, however, points to...

Honeybees Stung by Bad Winter, Pesticides

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:05:00 CDT

Beleaguered honeybees are having a harder time than ever before after an especially harsh winter and heavy pesticides discovered in their hives and pollen. A massive die-off of the valuable creatures is topping off 4 years of troubling population declines. Scientists are trying to nail down the exact mechanism causing...

Bees Can Count, Scientists Claim—Up to 4, That Is

Sarah Quinn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:45:35 CDT

Honey bees can count up to four, Australian researchers have found, but no higher. In a University of Queensland study, bees repeatedly flew to the same marked spot in a tunnel, even when it did not hold food, Reuters reports. "We find that if you train them to the third...

Bayer Knew Pesticide Killed Bees, Critics Charge

Drew Nelles — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:35:13 CDT

A German prosecutor is investigating allegations that chemical giant Bayer CropScience knowingly sold a pesticide that kills honeybees, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. The investigation follows complaints from German beekeepers and environmentalists that the company covered up incriminating data on chlothianidine. In the US, meanwhile, an environmental group sued...