At the entrance to Wyperfeld national park, in north-west Victoria, more than a dozen pink cockatoos are sprinkled across a hedge row of pine trees like Christmas decorations. These are Aleppo pines, not the native conifers that the birds rely on for nesting habitat and as a primary source of food. Still, the feathered ornaments appear […]
Tag: honeybees
Big agriculture is killing our bees. We’ll all pay the price
Last winter, commercial beekeepers lost more than 60% of their colonies – their worst losses on record. We tend to blame bee losses on separate, singular threats: pests, pesticides, habitat loss or extreme weather. But we’ve been thinking about bee losses wrong. The real culprit is our industrial food system. Managed honeybees are in effect […]
Say no to pesticides, mix up your lawn – and six more ways to help bees to thrive
We know about honeybees and bumblebees, but most of the UK’s bees are neither: they’re solitary bees, loners who come in a dizzying range of sizes, colours and varieties – more than 240 species. Have you heard, for instance, of the hairy-footed flower bee? “They’re one of the first bees to emerge each year,” says Laura […]
Asian Hornet Spotted in Ireland Sparks Biodiversity Warning
Ireland is on high alert after rangers captured a dangerous invasive insect that poses a major threat to local wildlife and ecosystems. According to Yahoo News, the Asian hornet has been sighted in the country for only the second time ever — first in Dublin in 2021, and now in Cork. The Asian hornet isn’t […]
The island that banned hives: can honeybees actually harm nature?
Off the coast of Tuscany is a tiny island in the shape of a crescent moon. An hour from mainland Italy, Giannutri has just two beaches for boats to dock. In summer, hundreds of tourists flock there, hiking to the red and white lighthouse on its southern tip before diving into the clear waters. In […]
As Oceans Warm, Predators Are Falling Out of Sync with Their Prey
For decades on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast, recreational anglers have braved the cold temperatures of late October and November to chase one of the region’s most iconic fish species, the striped bass. This season, just offshore of New Jersey and New York, the fall run was especially strong. “The amount of fish and [their size] […]
UK to ban bee-killing pesticides but highly toxic type could still be allowed
Bee-killing pesticides are to be banned by the UK government, as ministers set out plans to outlaw the use of neonicotinoids. However, the highly toxic neonicotinoid Cruiser SB could be allowed for use next year, as ministers are considering applications from the National Farmers’ Union and British Sugar. This powerful pesticide poisons bees by destroying […]
What to Do if You Find a Wasp Nest
Warm weather drives many people to step outside to soak up some sun. But as you enjoy your summer barbecue with friends and family, suddenly, a striped little visitor buzzes by. That buzzing intruder means one thing—you’ve got a wasp nest in your backyard. By late summer, wasp nests can house up to 10,000 busy […]