Tag Archives: bees

New Study Reveals Honey Bees’ Ability to Process Numerical Information

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A recent study on bee vision reveals that their capacity to differentiate quantities goes beyond simple visual patterns, indicating authentic numerical cognition influenced by their distinct brain perceptions.

To understand the mechanisms behind animal cognition, it is essential to adopt experimental designs that respect the biological and perceptual limitations of the species being studied. Zanon et al. addressed the ongoing debate around visuospatial frequency in numerical cognition research using honeybees (Apis mellifera) as a model system. Image credit: PollyDot.

In this study, researchers from Monash University, including Scarlett Howard, revisited previous critiques of bee intelligence, considering the unique sensory and perceptual limitations bees possess.

By evaluating experimental stimuli from a biologically relevant standpoint, the researchers demonstrated that previous critiques suggesting bees are merely sensitive to visual cues like spatial frequency are unfounded.

“These findings emphasize the necessity to eliminate anthropocentric biases in animal research,” stated Dr. Howard.

“In evaluating an animal’s cognitive capabilities, it is crucial to prioritize the animal’s perspective; otherwise, we may miscalculate their abilities.”

“Given that humans perceive the world quite differently from animals, we must refrain from centering human perspectives when researching animal intelligence.”

As the researchers conclude, properly assessing cognitive abilities demands experimental designs that align with the natural sensory capabilities of the target species.

“Neglecting how animals perceive their environment can lead scientists to erroneous conclusions,” remarked Dr. Mirko Zanon from the University of Trento.

“There is an ongoing debate regarding whether bees are genuinely ‘counting’ or merely responding to visual patterns.”

“Our findings indicate that this critique is invalid when considered within the ecological context of the animals.”

“Analyzing stimuli through the lens of how bees perceive their world reveals a genuine sensitivity to numerical concepts.”

“While it may be challenging to envision the world from a bee’s perspective, understanding animal perception is vital for our research,” Dr. Howard stated.

“Bees consistently astonish us with their navigation, their responses to our inquiries, and their decision-making processes.”

For further details, refer to the study published in the April 22 issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

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Zanon et al. 2026. Matching stimuli: A biology-aligned approach to numerical cognition research. Proc Biol Sci 293 (2069): 20253057; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2025.3057

Source: www.sci.news

Study Reveals California’s Hybrid Honey Bees Develop Natural Defenses Against Varroa Mites

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The Western honey bee is a crucial ecological and agricultural pollinator. In the U.S., beekeepers face annual colony losses primarily due to parasites such as Varroa destructor. A recent study explored a hybrid population of honey bees in Southern California, comprising a genetic mix of Western European, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and African lineages. Researchers discovered that these hybrid bees can effectively suppress Varroa levels without chemical intervention, paving the way for innovative strategies to safeguard pollinators against global stressors.

Electron micrograph of Varroa destructor (arrow) nestled between the honey bee’s exoskeleton plates. Image credit: UMD/USDA/PNAS.

The Varroa mites feed on the fatty tissues of bees, compromising their immune systems, causing weight loss, and shortening their lifespans.

The fat body in honey bees operates similarly to the liver, pancreas, and immune system in humans.

Moreover, these mites serve as vectors for severe viruses like the deformed wing virus and acute bee paralysis virus, which they introduce directly into the bee’s bloodstream.

Early studies relied on chemical treatments for control, yet these approaches often lose effectiveness over time.

“We frequently heard accounts of honey bees in California thriving with minimal chemical treatments,” stated Genesis Chong Echavez, a graduate student at the University of California.

“I aimed to rigorously test these claims and uncover the factors influencing beekeepers’ observations.”

During their research from 2019 to 2022, Chong Echavez and UC professor Boris Baer monitored 236 honey bee colonies in Southern California.

Although California bees are not entirely immune to mites, a colony led by a locally bred California hybrid honey bee queen saw a roughly 68% decline in Varroa levels. In contrast, commercial honey bee colonies had higher mite counts.

Additionally, colonies with these queens were more than one-fifth less likely to exceed mite levels that would necessitate chemical treatment.

To further investigate honey bee resistance to mites, the researchers also performed lab experiments on developing honey bee larvae.

Since Varroa mites must invade reproductive cells to breed, the scientists assessed whether they were equally attracted to larvae from commercial and hybrid honey bee colonies. The results showed a stark difference.

California hybrid honey bee larvae attracted fewer mites during their seventh day of life, which is typically when mites are most vulnerable.

This finding indicates that the key to honey bees’ ability to resist mites may lie in their early development stages, prior to adult exposure.

“What surprised me the most was the differences observed even in the larval stage,” Chong-Echavez remarked.

“This hints that the resistance mechanism may be deeply embedded in the genetic makeup of the bees.”

The full results are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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G. Chong-Echavez & B. Baer. 2026. Varroa Mite resistance in hybrid honey bee (Western honey bee) populations of Southern California. Scientific Reports 16, 10952; doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-45759-9

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Uncover Earliest Evidence of Ancient Honey Bees Nesting in Vertebrate Fossil

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Bees exhibit an extraordinary range of species and behavior, from solitary types that nest in burrows to social variants that construct intricate nests. This nesting diversity is partially captured in the fossil record, with trace fossils dating from the Cretaceous to the Holocene. In a recent study, Field Museum paleontologist Lázaro Vignola López and his colleagues unveil novel nesting behaviors based on trace fossils unearthed from Late Quaternary cave deposits on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Osnidam Almontei was discovered within the cavity of a vertebrate corpse.

A reenactment of the life of bees with evidence of them building their nests in caves and using the bone cavities as housing chambers for several egg-laying cells. Image credit: Jorge Mario Macho.

“The initial descent into the cave isn’t very deep. You secure a rope to the side and rappel down,” Dr. Vignola López explained.

“Entering at night, you can spot the eyes of tarantulas residing there. As you navigate through the 10-meter-long underground tunnel, fossils start to emerge.”

Fossil layers were separated by carbonate deposits formed during rainy periods in antiquity.

Although rodents made up most of the fossils, remains of sloths, birds, and reptiles—over 50 species in total—were also found. Together, these fossils narrate a compelling story.

“We hypothesize this cave served as a home for owls over generations, potentially for hundreds or even thousands of years,” Dr. Vignola López remarked.

“The owl would venture out to hunt and return to the cave to regurgitate pellets.”

“We’ve collected fossils of the prey the owl consumed, its own remains, and even bones of turtles and crocodiles that may have inadvertently fallen into the cave.”

Dr. Vignola López and his colleagues observed that the sediments in empty tooth sockets of mammalian jaws didn’t accumulate randomly.

“The surface was notably smooth and slightly concave, which is unusual for sediment burial. I noticed this pattern across multiple specimens and thought to myself, ‘There’s something peculiar here.’ It reminded me of a hornet’s nest,” he noted.

Many well-known nests constructed by bees and wasps belong to social species that coexist in large colonies, raising their young together—like the bees in honeycombs or paper wasp nests.

“However, the majority of bee species are solitary. They deposit eggs in small cavities and leave pollen for their larvae’s nourishment,” Dr. Vignola López continued.

“Some bee species create nests in tree hollows, in the ground, or utilize vacant spaces. Certain species in Europe and Africa even nest within discarded snail shells.”

To investigate the possible insect nests within the cave fossils, the researchers conducted CT scans and X-rays of the bones, capturing 3D images of the compacted soil in the tooth sockets without damaging the fossils.

The shape and composition of the deposits bore similarities to mud nests created by some contemporary bee species. Some of these nests contained ancient pollen grains that mother bees had sealed for their larvae.

The researchers propose that bees combined saliva and soil to construct small nests for their eggs, smaller than the eraser on a pencil.

Nesting within larger animal bones provided protection for bee eggs from potential predators such as wasps.

While the bees themselves were not preserved, the unique characteristics of the nests allowed for a taxonomic classification.

They named the nests Osnidam Almontei, in honor of the scientist Juan Almonte Milan, who first discovered this cave.

“Since no bee remains were found, they may have belonged to a currently existing species. Our knowledge on the ecology of various bee species in these islands is limited,” Dr. Vignola López stated.

Scientists speculate that this behavior arises from a combination of factors. With little soil covering the limestone terrain in this region, bees may have opted for caves as their nesting sites, rather than digging into the ground like many other species.

Additionally, this cave had been home to generations of owls, with numerous owl pellets accumulating over the years, providing the bees with ample use of the bones the owls left behind.

“This finding illustrates the peculiarities of bees. They can be surprising, and it emphasizes the importance of meticulous examination when studying fossils,” Dr. Vignola López remarked.

of paper published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences.

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Lazaro W. Vignola-Lopez and others. 2025. Fossil traces in mammal remains reveal a new nesting behavior for bees. R Soc Open Science 12(12):251748; doi: 10.1098/rsos.251748

Source: www.sci.news

No Need to Panic: Giant Radioactive Bees Are Not Present!

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Feedback brings you the latest science and technology news, featuring intriguing articles that pique the interest of our readers. If you have something you believe deserves attention, you can reach us at Feedback@newscientist.com.

Super Hornet

One of my preferred categories in news stories is “events that echo the first five or ten minutes of a disaster flick.” Titles like “Tremors near Major City” and “Scientists Develop an Aging Robot with Machine Guns for Arms” come to mind. For example, a giant mysterious black sarcophagus discovered in Egypt (yes, this one is real).

So, when we glimpsed a headline from the BBC news on July 31st, we were understandably concerned: “Radioactive hornet nest discovered at an old U.S. nuclear weapons site.”

The nest was identified on the Savannah River grounds close to Aiken, South Carolina, a location previously known for producing nuclear bomb components during the Cold War and currently housing millions of gallons of liquid nuclear waste. Investigators, however, calmed down concerns by stating none of the tanks were leaking. Rather, the nest was discovered to be harboring “onsite legacy radioactive contamination,” which refers to leftover contamination from past plutonium production.

Notably, the nest was sprayed to eliminate any wasps, subsequently bagged as radioactive waste. Thankfully, no bees were found, leading to speculations that they might have perished from radiation exposure and mutated into some chaotic form. However, I’ve watched enough Godzilla films to know that radiation typically causes creatures to grow rather than disappear. Let’s hope 2025 doesn’t bring a giant radioactive hornet invasion along the East Coast.

As a precaution, we dug out our aging copies of New Scientist‘s book Do You Eat Wasps? to learn that various creatures, including badgers and birds (of course), prey on striped insects, along with other insects like dragonflies. We consider sending badger families to the Savannah River site due to the substantial radiation; it seems like the only effective solution.

What to do if Your Dog Takes Cocaine

Reporter Matthew Sparks was combing through a press release when he stumbled upon a intriguingly phrased title. “What to do if your dog takes cocaine?” Instantly, the first suggestion from Feedback was to “take it for a walk,” but that’s neither a solution nor appropriate.

This press release referred to a Clinical Report relating to a case of a Chihuahua who experienced “acute onset of lethargy and a temporary episode of unresponsiveness.” It was revealed that the dog’s urine contained “cocaine, cocaine metabolites, norfentanyl, and trace amounts of fentanyl.” This mixture appeared to slow the dog’s heartbeat, an issue that was effectively managed by the attending veterinarian.

While the dog is fine now, it’s challenging to envision how bewildered the Chihuahuas must have been.

Upon further exploration, I found that dogs have a “history of culinary indifference.” This makes sense. I recall a rather dim spaniel we had that ate everything she discovered on the ground, despite its unsanitary nature and the chaotic aftermath on her digestive system. Living where we did, this predominantly consisted of discarded takeaway boxes and heaps of fox excrement. Still, one wonders what she might have sampled if we’d taken her for a stroll around Soho, London.

Curtailing Academic Jargon

Feedback often finds themselves perusing the references list at the end of academic papers, seeking crucial context. Many of these appear as structures like “Thomas, Richard & Harold, “The Very Complex Things”, Nature Vol. 13 P 666 (1984).”

In an effort to save space, academic journal titles are frequently abbreviated, and these can often be perplexing. For example, we were recently bemused to discover a journal abbreviated simply as Fish fish. Was the editor particularly enthusiastic about vertebrates that inhabit freshwater? Turns out the complete title is actually Fish and Fisheries.

Our curiosity sparked, leading us to wonder if this was indeed the most absurd abbreviation of a journal title.

There are evident trends. For instance, “analysis” tends to be abbreviated to “anal,” which can lead to unfortunate titles such as Advances in Risk Analysis becoming ADV risk anal and Accident Analysis and Prevention being shortened to Before the Accident Analysis. Similarly, many journal titles include library-related terminology, helping to explain why Zeitschrift Für Bibliothekswesen und Bibliographie is humorously abbreviated as Z bibl bibl.

Several abbreviated titles may risk creating confusion. The American Chemical Society has launched a whole series titled Advances in Arsenic Research, but it certainly didn’t yield what we anticipated.

The sheer number of journals paired with feedback’s limited lifespan means it’s nearly impossible to locate the most ridiculous abbreviation. Therefore, we’d like to invite a broader audience to help in our quest for the funniest journal title abbreviations.

Have you shared your feedback?

You can send your stories to feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Don’t forget to include your address. Explore past feedback on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Observing bees protect their nest by using their wings to ward off ants

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Japanese honeybees flap their wings to knock down ants that try to invade their nest.

Ants often invade honeybee hives to steal honey, prey on eggs, and kill worker bees. In defense, honeybees are known to fan their wings to blow ants away. Researchers have documented bees making contact with ants using their wings to physically knock them out of the hive, a behavior that has not been studied before.

High-speed camera footage shows guard wasps near the entrance of the hive leaning towards approaching ants, then flapping their wings to change direction and escape. If they hit the ant, it’s blown away.

Many beekeepers seem unaware of this strategy, as noted by Yoshiko Sakamoto. “I have never noticed this behavior in my nearly 10 years of beekeeping experience,” she says.

Researchers Yugo Seko and Kiyoto Morii from the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba introduced three species of native ants to the entrances of two Japanese honeybee hives (Honeybees colonies) and captured footage of hundreds of insect duels.

In most interactions, the bees hit the ants with their wings. However, this defense method is not always successful. Against some ants such as Pristomyrmex punctatus and Japanese street ants (Tsushima), the ants were blown away in about half to one third of attempts. This method was less effective against Japanese forest ants (Formica japonica), a larger and faster species.

Ants present varying levels of threat to bees, with some species being more aggressive than others. Bees may have evolved to use the wing-flailing defense tactic to avoid contact with more dangerous ants, while being more efficient against other species, according to the researchers.

The team plans to further study the bees’ responses to ant attacks and observe how the interaction between bees and ants evolves over time. They also aim to investigate whether the bees’ wing-beating skills improve as they gain experience. “There are still many mysteries surrounding this defensive behavior,” Morii says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Role of a Common Bacterium in the Sudden Deaths of 200,000 Longhorn Bees

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Saiga enters a bar. The bartender asks, “Why the long face?” Saiga responds, “A long nose helps me filter out dust in the summer and warm the cold air in winter. Plus, female saigas love big noses.”

Despite its unusual appearance, the saiga antelope has even stranger qualities. In May 2015, during breeding season in central Kazakhstan, a mysterious tragedy struck the saiga population. Over 200,000 saigas, equivalent to 60% of the global species, died from unknown causes.

Conservation efforts had been ongoing to protect the saigas, which had been hunted for their horns in the past centuries, leading to a decline in their numbers. The sudden mass die-off in 2015 shocked experts and led to extensive testing and analysis.

After thorough investigations, it was determined that a strain of bacteria, Pasteurella multocida, had caused the fatal infection in the saigas. This outbreak was possibly triggered by unusual weather conditions, sparking concerns about future die-offs.

Despite these challenges, conservation efforts have been successful in stabilizing the saiga population, with estimates now around 1.5 million. Strict measures like anti-poaching initiatives, habitat protection, and community engagement have contributed to this recovery.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently reclassified the saiga from “endangered” to “near threatened,” signaling progress in their conservation. However, researchers remain cautious about the species’ future due to ongoing threats.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com