Pollinator Education

Honeybees are celebrated pollinators, but new research reveals a more competitive side. Scientists observed honeybees chasing and displacing wild pollinators from flowers, while warmer conditions appeared to increase these encounters. Here's what the research means for wild bees, responsible beekeeping and the future of pollinator conservation.

Can a bee experience happiness, stress or even disappointment? New research into bee emotions and insect consciousness is challenging what scientists once believed about the minds of insects. From bumblebees playing with tiny balls to fruit flies displaying stress-related behaviors, discover the fascinating science behind the hidden inner lives of bees and why it matters for pollinator conservation.

Think pollination stops when the sun goes down? Think again. While bees and butterflies head home, moths, beetles and bats take over the night shift, quietly moving pollen and helping plants reproduce. Learn why nocturnal pollinators matter and how your garden can become a better habitat for them.

Yellow-legged hornets have begun appearing in the United States—and honeybees are their primary target. Scientists and beekeepers are racing to stop this invasive predator before it spreads and threatens pollinators that support global food systems.

Every year Canada imports hundreds of thousands of queen bees to keep honey bee colonies alive and pollinating crops. But scientists say relying on imported queens may actually weaken bee populations instead of saving them. Bees raised in warmer climates often struggle to survive harsh Canadian winters, and imported colonies can introduce new diseases or dilute locally adapted genetics. Researchers now believe the long-term solution to pollinator decline may lie in breeding locally adapted bees, strengthening native pollinator populations, and building more resilient ecosystems. Understanding how bee populations adapt to climate and environment could be the key to protecting the pollinators that sustain our food supply.

Most people assume their garden is visited by just a few bees. In reality, a healthy backyard can support dozens of native bee species, each playing a unique role in pollination and ecosystem health. The documentary My Garden of a Thousand Bees reveals how one small garden became home to more than 60 species of bees, uncovering a hidden world of pollinators that most people never notice. By understanding how bees live, forage, and pollinate plants, gardeners can transform their outdoor spaces into thriving habitats that support biodiversity and protect essential pollinator populations.

Most people think honeybees have always been part of North America’s landscape, but they actually arrived with European settlers in the 1600s. Long before that, native bumblebees were already pollinating wildflowers, surviving ice ages, and keeping ecosystems running smoothly. Understanding the difference between honeybees and native bees matters more than ever as pollinator populations decline and biodiversity hangs in the balance.

Bees can add, subtract, and understand zero despite having brains smaller than a grain of rice. This unexpected discovery is reshaping how scientists think about intelligence, mathematics, and even the possibility of communicating with extraterrestrial life. If math exists beyond human thinking, it may be the closest thing we have to a universal language.