Tag Archives: bumblebees

Blue and Green in the Flower Patch

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Ron Miksha

Good scientists do their best to remove bias from their observations and experiments. Statistical methods such as blocking, double-blind trials, use of appropriate controls, and randomization are among their key tools. Results are suspect when hypotheses are designed after data … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Science | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Not the only bees in town

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Ron Miksha

Although my life has centred on honey bees, I realize that they are not the only bee species in town. Here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we have about 200 species of bees – from giant bumble bees to rather petite … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Ecology, Friends, Native Bees, Outreach | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Icelandic Bees

Posted on April 24, 2021 by Ron Miksha

Iceland is more than spectacular volcanoes, ground quakes and rupturing continents. It has bees, too. Some say that the first founder bumble bee blew in with the wind. Others think that Iceland’s first bumble bee hitched a ride aboard a … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Native Bees, Travels | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Pollinator Week 2019

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Ron Miksha

In the past three or four years, I began to notice that honey bees aren’t the only bees in the world. What a surprise! There are over 20,000 other versions. Some as big as elephants, some as small as pin … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Outreach, Pollination | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Bees learn to drive tiny cars

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Ron Miksha

I wouldn’t believe this if I had seen it with my own eyes! Sam Droege, bee scientist extraordinaire, has a USGS Flickr website populated with great bee photographs. Last week, somewhere around April first, Sam posted the results of some … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Native Bees, Science, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

David Attenborough and the tired bumblebee

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Back in July, I posted about some cute stories which were filling social media. Vignettes described people rescuing tired, hungry-looking (how can you tell?) bumblebees by giving them a spoonful of sugar water. I have reposted that July blog piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Reblogs, Save the Bees | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Bees on Ice

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Ron Miksha

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 , , , | 19 Comments

Prolonging the sweet taste

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Ron Miksha

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 Ron Miksha

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 Ron Miksha

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