The Bee Guy<p><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/theBeeAt3" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>theBeeAt3</span></a> </p><p>Basic bee facts every day at 3pm. </p><p># 173</p><p>The number of queens a <a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/bumblebee" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bumblebee</span></a> colony produces is a good indicator of the health of the colony. <br />Research found that increasing levels of <a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/sunflower" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>sunflower</span></a> pollen in a colony diet sees the colony rear 30% more queens.<br /><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/bees" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bees</span></a> <br /><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>nature</span></a><br /><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/biodiversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>biodiversity</span></a><br /><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/science" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>science</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/insects" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>insects</span></a><br /><a href="https://mastodon.ie/tags/worldbeesanctuary" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>worldbeesanctuary</span></a></p>
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Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 162
A study in Switzerland focusing on two species of #bumblebee commonly found throughout Europe suggests that ‘City Bumblebees’ are smaller but more phenotypically diverse than their ‘Country Bumblebee’ cousins.
#bees
#nature
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
#science
#wildlife #vegan #health
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 161
# 160 contd.
Research found that in hotter and wetter years #bees had higher wing asymmetry meaning higher stress.
So #climate change bringing more hotter/wetter years will mean ever more stress on #bumblebees going forward.
#nature
#science
#biodiversity
#insects
#worldbeesanctuary
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 160
# 159 contd.
Using bee specimens dating back to 1900 and concentrating on 4 species of #bumblebee research in the UK showed that based on wing asymmetry #bees experienced more and more stress as the 20th century progressed.
#nature
#wildlife
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
#pollinators #insects #science
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 159
Bees develop asymmetrical wings when they experience stress during their development.
Very differently shaped left and right wings is an indicator of stress from an external factor which affects normal growth.
#bees
#nature
#worldbeesanctuary
#biodiversity
#pollinators
#wildlife
#bumblebees
#vegan #organic
#science
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 158
# 157 contd.
As the planet warms the range of temperatures in which #bumblebees can operate could shrink significantly.
#Bees carrying less pollen or foraging for shorter will have implications for colony health/pollination.
#nature
#climate
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
#pollinators
#wildlife
#vegan #organic
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 157
# 156 contd.
Research showed that the body temperature of #bumblebees rose 0.07°C for each milligram of pollen that they were carrying.
Fully laden bees were 2°C warmer than unladen #bees.
This matters on a warming #planet.
#nature
#biodiversity
#food
#foodsecurity
#pollination
#insects
#wildlife
#worldbeesanctuary
#climatechange
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 156
Research conducted recently in the US confirmed that carrying pollen raises bumblebee body temperature.
Temperature of #bumblebees carrying pollen was shown to be a lot higher than that of #bees with empty pollen baskets.
#nature
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
#wildlife
#clover
#vegan #organic
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 155
# 154 contd.
On the flip side heatwaves also reduce the quantity of nectar produced by plants which means less food available to #bumblebees already suffering from heat stress. So the #bees may throw in the towel and go home!
#nature
#science
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 154
# 153 contd.
Research indicates that heatwaves directly hinder #bumblebee foraging through thermal stress on the #bees.
Less time is spent actively foraging and the number of plants and #flowers they visit is reduced.
#climate
#nature
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 153
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and intense.
#Heatwaves negatively affect the success of bumblebee foraging and pollination.
In a real #climate ‘double whammy’ the heat directly interferes with both #bees and #plants.
#nature
#biodiversity
#worldbeesanctuary
#vegan #organic
#wildlife #insects #science