The decline of bumble bees in the United States has been well-documented and wide-spread, with reduced abundance of bees across the country and continent. Bumble bees are immensely important to the survival of many plants and animals, but also to the survival of humans because of the interconnection we all share. Bumble bees provide us Read More…
Recent Posts
Citizen Science in Pollinator Conservation
Museums across the world are filled with more plant, animal, and insect specimens than imaginable; each individual providing valuable insight into the research of its species. Specimen collection has long been the primary method of preserving these living things for later examination but, with the growth of the internet and advent of single-lens reflex cameras Read More…
Interspecies Competition
Nectar Robbers
Generally, flowers have developed specialized mechanisms for pollination by a specific class of species, the exclusion of other species is a crucial aspect of the flower’s specialization1. However, certain bee species display foraging behaviors such as nectar robbing in which they bite tiny holes in the flower, usually near the base of the corolla. From Read More…