First study showing pesticide exposure can affect crop pollination by bees
For the first time an international team of researchers have shown that pesticides impair the pollination services provided by bumblebees.
Bees play a vital role in pollinating some of the most important food crops globally and have been declining in recent years. Until now research on pesticide effects has been limited to their impact on bees, rather than the pollination services they provide.
The study discovered that bumblebees exposed to a realistic level of neonicotinoid pesticides found in agricultural environments collected pollen from apple trees less often and visited flowers less frequently.
The findings of this study have important implications for both society and the economy, as insect pollination services to crops are worth at least $361Bn worldwide every year, and are vital to the functioning of natural ecosystem.
New research led by the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology have discovered the key to enhancing the survival of bumblebee families: flower-rich habitats.
In the UK, most bumblebee colonies live for less than a year; nests are formed in the spring by a single queen and produce up to a few hundred daughter workers. At the end of the summer, new queens are produced which, after mating and hibernation, go on to start new colonies the following spring. Understanding survival between these critical lifecycle stages has proved challenging because in the wild, colonies are almost impossible to find.
The new research overcame these challenges by matching daughter queens to their mothers and sisters using advanced molecular genetics, and estimating the locations of colonies in the landscape from the locations of their workers.
The results provide strong support for environmentally-friendly management of farmland to provide more flowers in hedgerows, meadows and along the edges of arable fields. They also help farmers and land managers decide where best to plant flowers in the landscape.
Paper reference: Claire Carvell, Andrew F.G. Bourke, Stephanie Dreier, Stephen N. Freeman, Sarah Hulmes, William C. Jordan, John W. Redhead, Seirian Sumner, Jinliang Wang & Matthew S. Heard, ‘Bumblebee family lineage survival is enhanced in high quality landscapes’ Nature, published online 1800 GMT/1400 US Eastern Time, 15 March 2017. DOI: 10.1038/nature21709.
Scientists have shown that low levels of pesticides can impact the foraging behaviour of bumblebees on wild flowers, changing their flower preferences and hindering their ability to learn the skills needed to extract nectar and pollen.
Bees and other insects pollinate many of the world’s important food crops and wild plants, and have been threatened in recent years.
The study is the first to explore how pesticides may impact the ability of bumblebees to forage from common wildflowers in the UK that have complex shapes.
It looks like all of that cold, rainy weather was worth it. The new blooms are attracting some cute little pollinators too. #hellospring #springblooms #bumblebees (at University Heights, San Diego)
Found a bumblebee out that I can only assume was a queen that emerged too early. She was real tired too. When I picked her up she kept falling asleep in my hand.
I brought her in and gave her a drop of honey to give a boost of energy. I put her back outside in one of my tropical plants because the soil is softer for digging. It’s queued up to freeze starting in a few days so I really hope she burrows again.
I’ve never found a bumblebee queen in the middle of winter like this so I really hope she makes it. I don’t know how to take care of bumble bees lol.
Here’s a nature version of where’s Waldo! My Hercules garden is bees heaven! Look at them all. So fun to see pollinators at work. Several types of bees working together#pollinators #pollination #garden #gardening #herbs #homegrown #oregano #sage #instafood #instagood #instagram #instadaily #organic #healthylife #healthychoices #honeybees #masonbees #bumblebees
We redesigned our packaging. We find it adorable but we might be a tiny bit biased. What do you guys think? Do you like it? https://www.instagram.com/p/CLXMvuEnpw7/?igshid=16ho5newb17k3
Today Ispent hours working at the allotment in the heat and sunshine, it was glorious and felt more like late spring rather than late winter. Last night I couldn’t wait to see if I would find anything in bloom and I wasn’t disappointed!
Most of the primulas, some of the crocuses, the largest of the hellebores and an early daffodil were enjoying the sun too, ready to be visited by the first insects to venture out of their winter shelters.
Yesterday, at work, I also got to see the first few bumblebee queens of the year buzzing around: they just couldn’t resist the masses of tiny Calluna flowers. Let’s hope this odd spell of heat and sunshine isn’t followed by something catastrophic…in this period, last year, we were covered with snow and we still need to get through March, which is always unpredictable. Fingers crossed!
Jenna looked at herself in the mirror. She didn’t understand what she saw. Every time Alex said he was coming over, she did this. Got herself looking… well, like a slut. And then acted the same way. She didn’t even likehim!
“Jesus, Jenna,” she said to her reflection, “what’s wrong with you?” “Nothing,” her reflection replied with a wicked grin, “you’re just a slut.”
Jenna blinked. Did her… did her reflection just talk?
“What the hell?” she asked. “Who are you?” “I’m you, dummy.” the girl in the mirror said. “Can’t you tell? Wow, you really are a bimbo.” “What? No I’m not!” Jenna exclaimed. The absurdity of talking to a mirror seemed slightly less immediate, somehow. It was crazy, sure, but that didn’t quite makes its way to her conscious mind. “No? Then why do you dress like this for a guy you don’t even like?” “Well, I… I don’t know!” Her reflection leaned in. Jenna felt herself doing the same. “It’s because you’re a bimbo. A whore. A dumb, horny slut.” Jenna tried to shake her head, but it felt like she was stuck in molasses. “No, that’s not true…” “Sure it is! Last time Alex came over, you knelt on the floor in just your panties and blew him for, what, two hours?” Jenna blushed. Her reflection ran one manicured nail over the exposed part of her breast, slowly, and Jenna followed suit. “Yeah, I did, but…” her own hand felt so good, it was hard to think. “No buts! You’re going to do it tonight, too. Or whatever else Alex wants. And you know why?” she asked, twirling her hair. Jenna twirled her hair. “Why?” “Because you’re a ditzy bimbo whore. Say it.” Jenna sighed softly. “Noooo… I’m….” “A ditzy bimbo whore.” “Ditzy…” “That’s good. Come on, sweetie. Say it with me. Ready?”
Her reflection paused, and together, both of them said “I’m a ditzy bimbo whore.”
The girl in the mirror smiled brightly. Jenna smiled brightly. “I’m a ditzy bimbo whore,” they repeated.
Both of them giggled. “I’m a ditzy bimbo whore!”
They were in perfect sync now. Whatever her reflection did, Jenna did. She giggled when she did. She moaned when she did. She got wet when she did. She touched herself when she did. She came when she did. She no longer knew which one she was - the girl, or the reflection. Or if there was a difference. All the while, she repeated to herself “I’m a ditzy bimbo whore,” right up until Alex got there.
Today’s dress, while I had the little pattern out, is for @joannawaton’s daughter. It’s covered in bees!! This one’s made from recycled fabric - a former dress of mine, worn just twice. The skirt was made in panels, so this dress has two extra seams at the centre front and back, nicely hidden amongst the gathers. #eternalmagpie #summerdress #bumblebees #bees #coveredinbees #kidsclothing #dresseswithpockets
