Fungus Could Be Culprit in Death of Bees

Colonies collapsing due to fungus-virus combination

(NEWSER) - 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 a combination of factors: A fungus and a virus working together. The breakthrough was achieved by bee experts who teamed up with military scientists to study dead bees, the New York Times reports. More»

Half of species studied are in steep decline

(NEWSER) - The collapse in honeybee populations has been getting all the attention, but bumblebees are also in serious trouble, according to a new study, Populations of four common species of bumblebee in the US have dropped by up to 96% over the last few decades, according to a nationwide census of the insects. Scientists believe the decline is due to disease and inbreeding caused by habitat loss, the Guardian reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Honeybees flip over en masse and reflect light with their bellies for a reason, scientists have found: It's to scare off enemies. Bee experts knew that giant honeybees in Southeast Asia flipped over by the hundreds or even thousands but only recently discovered they were warding off predatory wasps. What scientists don't know is how thousands of bees communicate fast enough to flip over in unison in 800 milliseconds. More»

Syndrome could devastate population

(NEWSER) - Experts are still in the dark about what’s causing the deaths of vast numbers of bats in the Northeast, but some theories have emerged, Salon reports. Some scientists believe white-nose syndrome is driven by global warming, while others are looking hard at pesticides. In either case, humans may have instigated the threat, and the illness looks like a bad ecological omen. More»

Towns across US limit the pastime

(NEWSER) - Beekeeping is causing an unwanted buzz in some American towns as amateurs raise colonies for the love of it. As honeybees disappear from commercial hives, the ranks of hobbyist beekeepers have risen to some 100,000, reports the Wall Street Journal. Amid concerns the bees could zoom amok, some communities have imposed limits on who can handle the creatures, while others have simply banned the practice. More»