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Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.4.0-nightly.2025-04-01

#bees

101 posts77 participants6 posts today
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Colin Purrington

Small little sweat bee relaxing on a dandelion inflorescence. Not sure what it is so will likely just wait for John Ascher (National University of Singapore) to find my observation on iNaturalist. I'm so grateful for IDers like him. #bees #inaturalist #hymenoptera #insects #dandelion #sweatbee #halictidae inaturalist.org/observations/2

iNaturalistSweat Bees (Family Halictidae)Sweat Bees from Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA on April 13, 2025 at 01:16 PM by Colin Purrington
Public
Peter

Light pollution affects not only night-active insects but also day-active ones like honey bees. Bees in colonies exposed to more light sleep less and dance less—dancing is how they communicate food sources. This impacts the colony’s health and pollination efficiency. With global light pollution on the rise and known threats to nocturnal pollinators like moths, these findings signal more trouble for biodiversity and food security.

nature.com/articles/s41598-024

NatureExposure to constant artificial light alters honey bee sleep rhythms and disrupts sleep - Scientific ReportsArtificial light at night (ALAN) changes animal behavior in multiple invertebrates and vertebrates and can result in decreased fitness. However, ALAN effects have not been studied in European honey bees (Apis mellifera), an important pollinator in which foragers show strong circadian rhythmicity. Colonies can be exposed to ALAN in swarm clusters, when bees cluster outside the nest on hot days and evenings, and, in limited cases, when they build nests in the open. We captured and maintained foragers in incubated cages and subjected them to constant light (LL), constant dark (DD), or 12 h light:12 h dark (LD) cycle, and observed them with infrared cameras. After 79 h, there was a significant interaction of treatment and time because LL bees slept less. In detail, the bees maintained a regular sleep pattern for three days but LL bees showed a shift on the fourth day. LL bees had the largest sleep differences from LD controls, with trends of lengthened periods and increased phase misalignment from both LD and DD bees. LL bees also experienced significantly more disturbances from their nestmates and preferred to sleep in the lower portion of the cages, which had significantly lower light intensity. These findings suggest that ALAN can disrupt the sleep of honey bee foragers, which has implications for their behavior and overall colony health.
#bees#lightpollution#biodiversity
Public
Spaceways

13/04/2025 - Bees and trees

Today on our walk we looked at little things and big things and all the things in between.

A bee just chillin' in its hole. Not sure what type, maybe some sort of mining bee?

A big noble fir and Mrs Spaceways at the bottom. We were trying to find the tallest tree on the hill today. I think this is it. Roughly 33m tall, it felt big standing next to it. Storm Arwen took its twin which I think was taller. It's half truck is just to the right.

A bee sitting in its hole. Looks a bit furry.
A tall noble fir in the wood with Mrs Spaceways standing at the bottom. Not the easiest tree to get to but would be a lot worse once the bracken is back.
#Bees#Trees
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Colin Purrington

This summer I'm going to try luring the eastern shell-nesting mason bee (Osmia conjuncta) into my yard. The species occurs in Pennsylvania but is extremely rare, probably because its preferred shell, Anguispira kochi, is presumed to be locally extinct. But Ontario populations of the bee are thriving and seem completely happy to use shells of Cepaea (an invasive from Europe) so I thought I'd give them a try here. Yes, I know this is futile. #bees #osmia #insects #snails #shells #cepaea #pollinators #entomology #ontario #canada

Rectangular cement planter on which several dozen yellow shells are scattered on the surface, some partially covered by dried leaves.
Public
𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒓

Good morning everyone. I hope all is well. Last night I installed this new hive entrance guard to the hive. The hard working gals don't seem to mind. More room to go in and out than they had before but still easier to defend than a full open entrance. We're looking at a high of 80°F today so they should be active.

My 1st hive inspection is this afternoon. Hopefully Bee Arthur is doing well and laying eggs.

Have a great day! 🙂

#beekeeping#HarpHives#bees
Public
The Bee Guy

Early?
You’re darn tootin’ I am!
Got some billionaires to sort out.
#BeesNotBillionaires
Join me?
beesnotbillionaires.org

#theBeeAt3

Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.

# 92

For #bumblebees size matters…
…of their antennae!
Bigger #bees with bigger antennae have greater sensitivity to odours.
Large antennae can catch more odour molecules and so are more sensitive to odours than small antennae.

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