Archive for February 2019
Bee Friendly Solar Farms Part 2: US Solar Apiary Model Takes Off
In our last post, we looked at the practice of planting pollinator friendly plants, aka creating “bee meadows,” on solar farm sites in the UK. Now, commercial beekeepers are rolling out solar apiaries across the USA. In June 2017, National Geographic published the amusing headline ‘The Tesla of Honey‘. They were referring to the first…
Read MoreBee Friendly Solar Farms Part 1: From turf and gravel to bee meadows
Initiatives in the UK and USA are transforming solar farms into pollinator friendly bee meadows. An environmental conscience has inspired many a budding bee keeper. Bees, after all, are essential to the survival of our ecosystems and the health of our planet. The same motivations has seen demand increase for greener, renewable energy. But every…
Read MoreHoney Bee Intelligence Part 2: Can Honey Bees Do Math?
RMIT researchers believe that their study shows honey bees can do basic math. Did these bees really perform addition and subtraction to get through a maze? Honey bees are remarkable in so many ways. Anyone who works with them can vouch for that. But recent research into honey bee intelligence is finding that those tiny…
Read MoreHoney Bee Intelligence Part 1: The Research Buzz around Bee Brains.
Fascinating research into honey bee intelligence is capturing the imaginations of bee lovers. It’s no surprise to see that the world is becoming more intrigued with the wondrous honey bee. Lately there has been exciting research on honey bee intelligence emerging. Even the media has been quick to report on these fascinating updates. In part…
Read MoreDicamba: A New Weed Killer Disaster Unfolding in USA for Honey Bees
USA honey bees are facing yet another lethal threat from new “drift-prone” applications of weed killer Dicamba. Beekeepers have linked new “drift-prone” applications of the weed killer Dicamba with a worrying trend. Bee numbers and honey production has recently plummeted in southern USA. Both beekeepers and scientists believe the herbicide is killing the wild forage…
Read MorePhD Candidate’s Honey Bee Research Breakthrough: What are Varroa Mites Really Feeding On?
A University of Maryland PhD candidate realised that a key assumption about Varroa Mite held for almost 50 years could be entirely wrong. And he was right. Content warning: This discovery about Varroa Mite gets a little bit grisly. “Take your hand and put it on your face. Now imagine your hand is a parasite,…
Read MoreWhy Australian Beeswax is the Bees Knees
Demand for Australian Beeswax has continued to surge. Many industries use beeswax to make a range of products. These includes everything from candles and furniture polish to glazing products for food. But it the is beauty and health industries worldwide that have driven prices the most. And there is particular demand for Australian beeswax, which…
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