Article
Biology
Felicity Muth
Summary: Species' cognitive traits are influenced by their ecology, with individuals in different roles within a species exhibiting varying cognitive capabilities. Through experiments with wild bees, it was found that queens performed better than workers in certain learning tasks, indicating a potential link between cognitive abilities and ecological requirements for different roles within a colony.
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco E. Fonturbel, Isidora B. Sepulveda, Giselle Muschett, Gaston O. Carvallo, Lorena Vieli, Maureen M. Murua
Summary: Invasive species are a significant driver of worldwide biodiversity loss. This study examines the associations between bumblebees and native and exotic plant species in Chile, particularly focusing on flower color preferences. The findings suggest that exotic bumblebee species primarily visit flowers of exotic plants and show preferences for purple and pink flowers, while native bumblebees visit both native and exotic plant species in similar proportions and have preferences for white, pink, and purple flowers.
Review
Entomology
Amy Elizabeth Dozier, Edward Alexander Straw, Dara Anne Stanley
Summary: Cuckoo bumblebees are social parasites that depend on host species to complete their life cycle. However, there is still limited knowledge about their fundamental ecology, especially for certain species. Research on cuckoo bumblebees primarily focuses on European species and neglects Asian species. Key research areas such as ecology and behavior have received little attention.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Grace Twiston-Davies, Matthias A. Becher, Juliet L. Osborne
Summary: The BEE-STEWARD software tool serves as a research and decision-support tool for predicting and comparing the effects of bee-friendly management interventions on bumblebee populations. It integrates agent-based models of bumblebee behavior, colony growth, and landscape exploration into a user-friendly interface with automated reporting capabilities.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Marcel Ethan Sayre, Rachel Templin, Johanna Chavez, Julian Kempenaers, Stanley Heinze
Summary: While bees and fruit flies share similarities in their central complex, there are also key functional differences that may impact their navigational abilities.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yijie Deng, Bo Yeon Kim, Kyeong Yong Lee, Hyung Joo Yoon, Hu Wan, Jianhong Li, Kwang Sik Lee, Byung Rae Jin
Summary: BivCaE, a carboxylesterase found in bumblebee venom, acts as a lipolytic agent by degrading blood triglycerides, unlike the phospholipase A(2) found in bee venom, BivCaE does not affect mammalian cells.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Merissa G. Cullen, Liam Bliss, Dara A. Stanley, James C. Carolan
Summary: Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is believed to have no risk to non-target organisms. However, research suggests that it may have negative effects on human health and other animals, including pollinating insects like bees. This study investigated the effects of glyphosate exposure on bumblebees and found changes in important cellular and physiological processes in their digestive tracts. The study highlights the need to consider the impact of coformulants on non-target organisms in pesticide risk assessment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Briana E. Wham, Sarthok Rasique Rahman, Marena Martinez-Correa, Heather M. Hines
Summary: Hybrid zones provide valuable insights into microevolution and speciation processes through patterns of gene flow. The study of color distribution and gene flow in the bumble bee Bombus melanopygus reveals geographically distinct mitochondrial haplogroups, suggesting historical isolation and subsequent gene flow in the transition zone. Discordant gene flow driven by mimetic selection, dominance effects, and assortative mating is observed, highlighting alternative patterns of gene flow in contact zones.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Xiao Hu, Guiling Ding, Fangzhou Ma, Muhammad Naeem, Yong Li, Jiaxing Huang, Jiandong An
Summary: The study predicts the potential distribution of the Chinese cuckoo bumble bee and reveals its fragmented distribution, providing a basis for conservation strategies. The identified areas of high suitability should be considered as primary conservation areas for the bee.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
S. M. Williams, N. Aldabashi, C. Palego, J. L. Woodgate, J. C. Makinson, P. Cross
Summary: This study demonstrates the development of a neural network algorithm to determine a bee's flight path within six measurements as it leaves the nest. Comparing neural network with other models showed improved results, providing a new approach to monitoring bee flight.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jaroslav Hambalko, Peter Gajdos, Jean-Marc Nicaud, Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Michal Tupec, Iva Pichova, Milan Certik
Summary: Fatty alcohols are aliphatic primary alcohols with four or more carbon atoms that have potential industrial and biological applications. They are produced in nature as part of pheromone mixtures in insect species and may also be used as substitutes for commercial insecticides in agriculture. Biotechnological production of fatty alcohol components using engineered microbial strains shows promise for sustainable ecological practices.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Johanna Yourstone, Vidula Varadarajan, Ola Olsson
Summary: Bumblebees often focus on certain flowers for pollen foraging, but this focus is not long-lasting in the field, with the visited flower species varying over time. Most individuals collect several types of pollen, and the more pollen types they collect, the more diversity is contributed to the bumblebee colony. Flower constancy, focusing on a few or even a single flower species, is a widely observed behavior during single foraging trips, but its persistence over longer time periods is largely unknown. Only 23% of the pollen foraging trips were flower constant, and repeatedly sampled individuals showed different preferences at other sampling occasions. The preferences change in response to shifting floral resources.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Hong Zhang, Chao Han, Tom D. Breeze, Mengdan Li, Shibonage K. Mashilingi, Jun Hua, Wenbin Zhang, Xuebin Zhang, Shiwen Zhang, Jiandong An
Summary: The study found that bumblebee pollination can improve both the yield and flavor of tomatoes. The pollination method affects fruit set, weight, and seed quantity of tomatoes. Bumblebee-pollinated tomatoes have better flavor, with higher levels of fructose and glucose, but lower levels of sucrose, citric acid, and malic acid. Additionally, the volatile organic compounds in bumblebee-pollinated tomatoes are different from those in vibrator-treated or PGR-treated tomatoes, with more compounds preferred by consumers.
Article
Biology
Cheng Sun, Aibing Zhang, Jinfeng Chen, Sarah Schaack
Summary: Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that play a major role in genome evolution and have phenotypic impacts. Recent studies suggest that TEs are the main contributor to genome size variation and are involved in the formation of new coding and regulatory sequences in bumblebees. Future research using advanced technologies will help uncover the functions and contributions of TEs in bumblebee biology.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yakai Tian, Jiyao Liu, Feng He, Jiaxing Huang, Jie Wu, Shaoyu He
Summary: The study found that IRP30 regulates worker egg-laying by affecting the expression of Vg, the size of the ovary and the formation of the oocyte. These findings provide essential information for understanding the mechanisms underlying worker reproductive regulation.