Menu Close

Articles on Bumblebees

Displaying 1 - 20 of 22 articles

The queen, on the right with a larger, darker body, is bigger than the worker bees in the colony and lives several times longer. Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images

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.
Bees that can adapt to the changing climate around us offer hope for more research and better policy and conservation efforts. (Shutterstock)

What a buzzkill: Early-ending winters disrupt bumblebee slumber

Seventy-two per cent of native bumblebee species in North America are cutting their winter hibernation short by timing their emergence to earlier spring onsets.
A bumblebee visits a blooming honeysuckle plant. Sidorova Mariya | Shutterstock

Urban gardens are crucial food sources for pollinators - here’s what to plant for every season

Up to 85% of the nectar available to pollinating insects in a city comes from gardens. What we plant – whether in an allotment or a window box – can make a huge difference.
Wildflowers proliferating in overgrown roadsides during the coronavirus pandemic are providing habitat for pollinators. (Shutterstock)

COVID-19 shutdowns will give wildlife only short-term relief from climate change and other threats

Temporary reductions in carbon dioxide during the pandemic won’t turn the tide on climate change or biodiversity loss, but summon the need for action.
Native bumble bees perform ‘buzz pollination,’ shaking flowers to release protein-rich pollen. A. Westreich

Bee-washing’ hurts bees and misleads consumers

‘Bee-washing,’ marketing claims that purport to help bees, can diminish the important distinction between a honey bee and native bee.
The Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) has been found in Cairns. It’s just one of the introduced bees buzzing under the radar. Tobias Smith

Aussie scientists need your help keeping track of bees (please)

Bees innocuously buzzing ‘round the birdbath may be a barometer for burgeoning bee invasions.

Top contributors

More