Latest news with #honeybee
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bee colony biggest I've dealt with, says keeper
A honey bee colony discovered in a wall cavity of an industrial building "is the biggest I've ever dealt with", a beekeeper has said. The nest, believed to contain 80,000 insects, was found about six weeks ago at Crisp Malt, Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, Norfolk, by scaffolders. Steve Barrett, of Barrett's Bees, said: "Yes, there's been a few stings, nothing major, but they've been very, very friendly, it's been a successful day." He is also the beekeeper of brewing company Adnams of Southwold, Suffolk, and he initially plans to relocate the bees to his aviaries there. "This is the biggest I've every dealt with, it's a really good size and very healthy too, said Mr Barrett. The extent of colony came to light when the company decided to renovate a building dating back to 1903, said Dan Clarke, site manager at Crisp Malt. "As we put up some scaffolding, the scaffolders recognised there were some bees flying in and out of the building, so we stopped to have a little look, called in contractors and yes it's a bee hive," he said. "There's always bees and other stuff flying around, no-one took much notice, but they've been around for 10 to 12 years and the hive was a lot bigger than expected." Chris Fulford, from builders PJ Spillings, was surprised that the bees were "a lot less angry than I thought they'd be". The site supervisor admitted he was a bit nervous when he began cutting into the wall to access the colony. "It's unnerving when they're all right in front of your face and you're in the hole, putting your hands in there, but it's been alright, I've got a nice suit and only got stung once so far," he said. Mr Barrett, who has 18 miles of aviaries across various counties, expects the bees to settle into their new home quickly. "They'll do orientation flights, I'll face them southerly and there's quite a bit of forage where they're going," he said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Beekeeper helping kids get a buzz from nature Flowers on ex-industrial sites 'harming bees' Beekeeper creates 18-mile bee corridor along coast
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Huge hive found at Great Ryburgh maltings removed by beekeeper
A honey bee colony discovered in a wall cavity of an industrial building "is the biggest I've ever dealt with", a beekeeper has said. The nest, believed to contain 80,000 insects, was found about six weeks ago at Crisp Malt, Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, Norfolk, by scaffolders. Steve Barrett, of Barrett's Bees, said: "Yes, there's been a few stings, nothing major, but they've been very, very friendly, it's been a successful day."He is also the beekeeper of brewing company Adnams of Southwold, Suffolk, and he initially plans to relocate the bees to his aviaries there. "This is the biggest I've every dealt with, it's a really good size and very healthy too, said Mr Barrett. The extent of colony came to light when the company decided to renovate a building dating back to 1903, said Dan Clarke, site manager at Crisp Malt. "As we put up some scaffolding, the scaffolders recognised there were some bees flying in and out of the building, so we stopped to have a little look, called in contractors and yes it's a bee hive," he said. "There's always bees and other stuff flying around, no-one took much notice, but they've been around for 10 to 12 years and the hive was a lot bigger than expected." Chris Fulford, from builders PJ Spillings, was surprised that the bees were "a lot less angry than I thought they'd be".The site supervisor admitted he was a bit nervous when he began cutting into the wall to access the colony. "It's unnerving when they're all right in front of your face and you're in the hole, putting your hands in there, but it's been alright, I've got a nice suit and only got stung once so far," he said. Mr Barrett, who has 18 miles of aviaries across various counties, expects the bees to settle into their new home quickly. "They'll do orientation flights, I'll face them southerly and there's quite a bit of forage where they're going," he said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists shaken by alarming discovery inside collapsing bee colonies — here's what they found
The honey bee population continues to decline at an alarming rate, putting our access to food at risk. Neonicotinoid pesticides negatively impact honey bee health, as the chemicals have been found to slow the insect's ability to forage pollen, according to a study from Environmental Science and Technology. While the pesticide doesn't immediately increase bee mortality rates, the researchers stated that pollen foraging is crucial to brood development; thus, decreased foraging impacts colony health. Meanwhile, the honey bee colonies continue to shrink, so any threat to colony health exacerbates this issue. In March, Washington State University researchers found that commercial honey bee colony losses in the U.S. could reach 60-70% in 2025. Bees are one of our most important pollinators, meaning they fertilize our plants and crops. Without them, about 35% of global crop production is at risk, according to the World Economic Forum. As crop yields become more unpredictable due to rising temperatures causing extreme weather, declining bee populations further impact our global food supply chain. These environmental stressors have led to scarce harvests, which can lead to high costs at the grocery store and decreased access to our favorite ingredients. Beyond assisting the global agricultural industry, bees are critical to our diverse ecosystem because they help pollinate plants and flowers that beautify our communities. We may not be able to stop declining bee populations overnight, but there are ways we can combat the issue at both a mass scale and an individual level. The University of Georgia Bee Program has suggestions for food growers to protect pollinators, including tips for strategically timing the use of certain pesticides so that bees are less likely to be exposed to them or using less toxic pesticides. In an article for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Cal Orey, an author who has interviewed beekeepers about colony collapses, also pointed to the importance of supporting researchers working to protect our bees. Individuals can also ensure that their yards and gardens are friendly to pollinators. This can be done by avoiding pesticides, growing flowering native plants, and providing hydration for bees, just to name a few examples. Which of these groups has the biggest role to play in reducing food waste? Grocery stores Restaurants Individuals The government Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Free Malaysia Today
03-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
What's the buzz? Meet the former biologist who moves beehives
Former biologist John Chan says humans can learn to live peacefully with bees. (Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA : It was supposed to be a standard relocation. But as John Chan rose skyward in a cramped skylift box, face-to-face with a massive 2m-wide honeycomb hanging high above an international school in Bandar Baru Bangi, he knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary rescue. The air was already thick with warning. 'We lit the smoke – we always do that first,' he said, referring to the makeshift burner made from cardboard egg cartons. 'But even that didn't calm them. The bees attacked immediately.' The hive belonged to the 'lebah tualang', or giant honeybee – Malaysia's largest and most aggressive species. 'Their sting is the most painful. I wear at least three layers, but if they really want to get through, they can.' That day, they did. Chan, a volunteer at My Bee Savior (MBS), was stung four or five times through his protective suit. One of his fellow volunteers, stationed safely on the ground below, had it worse – he bolted over 100m to the school's main gate, only to discover 30 stings across his back. Surprisingly, the giant honeybees are Chan's favourite: 'They are beautiful creatures; unlike other bee species here, they form a congregation of 30 to 40 hives on a single tree. They command a lot of respect.' Chan and fellow volunteers at My Bee Savior offer beehive-relocation services for free. (My Bee Savior pic) Still, this particular case was one of the rare ones during which Chan and his team had to retreat. At 43, the former biologist dedicates his life to protecting both people and bees. As part of MBS, which relocates beehives free of charge, Chan deals with some of nature's most misunderstood – and sometimes most dangerous – creatures. Originally a government initiative under the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, MBS re-emerged in 2019 as a volunteer-led organisation with one mission: to offer humane, non-lethal solutions to Malaysia's rising cases of urban beehives. For Chan, this mission often requires nerves of steel, a beekeeper's precision, and the level-headedness to walk away when nature refuses to yield. 'Sometimes we have to abandon a case – it's too dangerous. But even then, we make sure to guide them. Close your windows, turn off porch lights: bees are drawn to light. We help people stay safe.' Giant honeybees are the biggest and most aggressive bees in the country. (John Chan pic) So, why risk his life for bees? It stems from Chan's lifelong love of nature. 'Biology has been my favourite subject since Form 4,' he shared. 'And I ran an ecotourism business for many years, where we dealt with and handled wildlife. I was focused on insects and plants.' His path shifted during the pandemic. While most stayed home, Chan joined a global project studying bee microbiomes – the gut bacteria of bees – alongside researchers from Switzerland's University of Lausanne and two local universities. 'We needed real-time access to bee colonies for sampling. MBS was the best resource: they were getting complaints and relocation requests almost daily,' Chan recalled. What began as a scientific necessity soon evolved into a calling. The deeper Chan went, the more committed he became – not just to research, but to protecting bees and the ecosystems they support. Indeed, the work he does is important. Relocating beehives isn't just about keeping people safe – it's about protecting the very creatures that keep our ecosystems thriving. Saving bees is important for the world's food supply. (Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle) 'Honeybees are mainly pollinators,' Chan explained. Without them, entire food systems would begin to collapse. In a world where bees are often misunderstood – swatted at, sprayed, or seen as threats – Chan's goal is as much about education as it is about rescue. Every hive safely moved is a small victory for biodiversity. 'Beehives can be relocated. It's not necessary to kill them, which seems to be most people's natural response. Yes, they can be dangerous, but in most cases, they are actually not. We can learn to live harmoniously with bees,' he concluded. Find out more about My Bee Savior here, and follow them on Facebook.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Plummeting honeybee populations are a big concern for food supply, Chicago area experts emphasize
Honeybee populations are declining rapidly, and it is a big concern for agriculture — and for our food supply — across the county and specifically in Illinois. According to a new report, commercial beehives lost more than 60% of their population in less than a year — and they are not the only bees we are losing. But Chicago area experts say there are changes people can make to help. Paul Caradonna and Nick Dorian are scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden in north suburban Glencoe, and bee experts. Both are tracking the dramatic drop in honeybees and what it looks like nationally and locally. "We don't know exactly what is going on with this recent round of declines," said Caradonna, a conservation scientist. A nationwide survey shows commercial honeybee colony losses are at a new highpoint this year — losing more than 1.6 million from June to March. "About three quarters of the top global crops, from apples to blueberries to coffee to watermelon, require bees to be pollinated," said Dorian, a scientific researcher. Thus, researchers warn that the bee population decline could affect your trip to the grocery store, since honeybee pollination is so critical for food production. Both experts also quick to point out that the decline is widespread. "And with fewer bees — not only fewer of them, but fewer species of them — our food system is at risk," said Dorian. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the department is concerned about the decline and its impact on the food supply: "USDA is aware of the unusual losses to our nation's honey bee colonies and is concerned about its potential impact on food production and supply. USDA-Agricultural Research Service scientists are working closely with federal partners, stakeholders, and impacted parties to identify the source of this agricultural challenge. USDA will share more information when data is available." "We're likely to see — whether it's this year or next year — if we don't solve these problems, it will affect offerings in the grocery store and the cost of things," said Caradonna. Some of the factors known to affect bee populations are our changing climate, and a widespread use of pesticides. The Illinois Farm Bureau said it has invested $145,000 to support pollinator habitat projects across 28 counties statewide: "Illinois Farm Bureau is supportive in maintaining a healthy apiary population. Our members have expressed through our grassroots policy process that we need a vibrant local beekeeping population that allows apiary's to both help with plant pollination but also provide a healthy source of "sweetness" in our food supply. We have extensive goals in supporting beekeepers and their hives both in rural and urban areas. Since 2021, Illinois Farm Bureau has invested $145,000 to support 55 pollinator habitat projects spanning across 28 counties in Illinois. IFB is also a proud supporter of Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom. The program offers engaging activity and standards-based agricultural lessons, free for all teachers. One of the focuses of Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is Pollinator Education. In school year 2023/2024, IFB's Agriculture in the Classroom provided pollinator education to 33,125 students through 1,440 teachers." But the average person does not have to spend six figures to be part of the solution. The experts said it can be as easy as planting a small garden, or putting some bee-friendly plants on your balcony. "Start with a couple of flowers that you find really attractive," said Dorian. Just take it from a bee's best friend. Dorian and Caradonna work with bees all the time. "When you look at bees in this way, it's impossible not to fall in love with them," said Dorian. "Why wouldn't you plant a garden for a bee?" Project Apis m. — named for Apis mellifera, the taxonomic name for the western honeybee — issued this statement outlining the problem and the action the beekeeping industry is taking. "Commercial beekeepers have been seeing the trend of colony losses increase over many years — and this survey showed a new high point of 62% losses — estimating that of 2.7 million colonies in the USA, 1.6 million were lost from June to March. "Commercial beekeepers transport truckloads of honey bees to provide pollination services to growers of pollinated crops, which are 1 in 3 bites of our food. Shortages of honey bees could impact availability, quality and cost of our foods. "They have it all on the line to rebuild and continue to provide pollination, honey, and sustain their businesses. It's a typical practice to divide the remaining strong colonies and add a queen to the new divides, to regrow their numbers, but this level of loss is beyond what is sustainable, and many businesses will not be able to recover this year. "The beekeeping industry is awaiting the release of information and results from the USDA scientists who beekeepers called for help, in hopes the samples taken will help us understand causes and what can be done to have better outcomes immediately. "In the longer term, the causes of bee health concern remain largely unchecked, and to prevent this happening again we need large scale efforts- more research, more tools to control Varroa mites and viruses, more healthy pasture for bees, and less pesticide exposures. "Anyone who likes to eat needs healthy honey bees!"
