Tag Archives: bumblebees

Bees on Ice

Posted on October 14, 2018 by

So much has happened in the weeks since my last post: I started an MSc (in bee ecology); my son and I pulled our honey crop;  I presented a talk at the first-ever United Beekeepers of Alberta conference; I began … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Ecology, Travels | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Prolonging the sweet taste

Posted on July 23, 2018 by

Most nectar-supping insects land on a flower, take a bit of nectar, then fly off. But bees are different. They hang around the flower, sometimes gorging for ten seconds or more, if there’s enough nectar. Why the difference? Scientists think … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Science | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Bees (of a sort) on Postage Stamps!

Posted on May 30, 2018 by

Canada has something called ‘permanent’ stamps. We call them “P” stamps. The first ones, issued ten years ago, had a small letter P on them, next the the Queen of England’s face. P stamps have become B stamps, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

March on Down?

Posted on April 21, 2017 by

This weekend, we celebrate Earth Day. And why not? There are official days for glazed spiral ham (April 15), chocolate covered cashews (April 21!), and bee sting enthusiasts (March 30). So, Earth should have a day of celebration. As a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Science | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

First Exit of Bumblebees (A Video)

Posted on April 3, 2017 by

Do you have a minute? You might enjoy this video, First exit of bumblebees, filmed (and scored) by Mukibrain. When he sent me his link, the producer wrote, “I would like to share with you the latest video by Mukibrain, … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Movies | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Bumble Bees and Free Will

Posted on September 8, 2016 by

Much is made of a human’s ability to make free choices. It’s an illusion, of course, but if people should be awarded this mysterious power, then why not bees? To bolster this notion of bees and free will, we’ll look … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Ecology, Science | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Bumblebee Honey For Sale?

Posted on April 25, 2016 by

My brother was at a farmer’s market in North Carolina this weekend. A vendor was selling a thimble-full of honey for $10. Maybe slightly more than a thimble. The seller told my brother that you wouldn’t smother a pancake with … Continue reading →

Posted in Apitherapy, Bee Biology, Ecology, Friends, Honey, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Thistle Bumblebees

Posted on August 21, 2015 by

Although I have mentioned many times that honey bees are not going extinct (there are actually more kept hives of honey bees today than 10 years ago), I am concerned about wild and native species of bees. Loss of habitat, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Honey Plants, Save the Bees | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Uncommon Ancestory

Posted on August 6, 2015 by

Creatures change with time. You might believe that God controls, guides, or designs those changes or you may have the opinion that random acts in the environment create mutations which change a species. The former idea is accepted by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Genetics, Science | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Plight of the Bumblebees

Posted on July 10, 2015 by

Forty years ago, near Florida’s Ocala National Forest, I took the photos seen in today’s blog. This is a bumblebee nest, accidentally uncovered and exposed on the forest floor, in the winter of 1974 in central Florida. You can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Ecology, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments