February 2026
(Beyond Pesticides, January 29, 2026)
A study of ecotoxicity risk from neonicotinoid insecticides, published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, finds that chemicals in this class of pesticides, particularly dinotefuron, increase the body temperature of Apis mellifera (European honey bee) and subsequently accelerate the translocation (movement) of contaminants into hives by the honey bees. The research indicates that neonicotinoids affect acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system, leading to an ―elevation in octopamine titer [neurotransmitter/hormone] and subsequent increase in the body temperature of honeybees,‖ the authors report. They continue: ―Furthermore, we observed a considerable upregulation [of] the expression of a flight gene flightin in honeybees. This gene accelerates the homing behavior of honeybees and facilitates the rapid and frequent transport of neonicotinoid pesticide-contaminated nectar to the hive.‖
(Beyond Pesticides, January 28, 2026) A study published last year in Science of The Total Environment reports widespread pesticide contamination collected from beehive monitoring across the European Union (EU). ―This study has produced the first EU-wide distribution map of terrestrial pesticide contamination and demonstrates widespread pesticide contamination of EU environments,‖ the authors write. The study, led by a cohort of citizen-scientists, documents pesticide drift across the European continent. The results found that 188 of the 429 targeted pesticide compounds were detected in noninvasive, in-hive passive samplers (APIStrips) across 27 EU countries between May and August of 2023. This finding emerges at a time when public health and environmental advocates raise concerns about the European Union‘s backtracking on commitments to reduce pesticide use by 2030…
Read the full articles at
Neonicotinoid Insecticides Cause Deadly Overheating Behavior in Honey Bees, Study Finds Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog AOL
Why Do Honey Bees Disappear When the Sun Goes Down?
Honey bees must make it back to their hives before dusk to avoid individual bees becoming lost or exposed to nighttime dangers. Research has proven through polarized-light cues that light can create a navigation hazard after dark. Specialized nocturnal insects require slower visual processing, which is a liability in daylight, which is why bees maintain sight that works best in daytime. Forager bees sleep overnight so that they are ready to work the following day; however, other activities within a hive persist in dark hours.
Read the article here
How ‘bee glue’ might improve our health
A collaboration between apicultural scientists and a Māori land trust in Te Urewera is shedding light on the potential health benefits of propolis, or “bee glue”…
[Apicultural scientist Michelle] Taylor said research on New Zealand propolis is still in its early stages, but propolis has a long history of use as a natural remedy, especially in wound care as an antimicrobial agent.
She is particularly interested in the connection between propolis and improved glycemic control and reduced insulin resistance.
“New Zealand has so many cases of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, so we would really like to determine whether the properties and propolis from our native plants could be part of the therapy for these conditions.
Read the article here
Do bees really like dirty water?
Le Bivic, P., Alaux, C., Domalain, J. et al. Study of honey bee (Apis mellifera) water preferences: do bees really like dirty water?. Apidologie 56, 99 (2025).
Summary: Honey bees primarily collect water for thermoregulation and larval nutrition, and their preferences for water sources are influenced by temperature and mineral content. The study found that bees preferred less mineralized water, such as rainwater and diluted slurry, with their water choices remaining consistent despite temperature changes.
Further information here
Asheville Honey Fest V – Sunday, June 7th, 2026 – Highland Brewing – Asheville, NC, USA
At the heart of Asheville Honey Fest and the Black Jar Contest is a shared curiosity for flavor, a sense of play, and a deep respect for the bees and pollinators that make it all possible. The Black Jar Contest invites beekeepers to let their honey speak for itself—judged purely on taste, without labels or visual cues—while Honey Fest brings the experience to life with tastings, music, artisans, and community celebration. Together, these events honor the craft of beekeeping, the diversity of honey, and the people who care deeply about bee health. Deadline: Entries must be received or postmarked by March 1, 2025. Black Jar Contest entries are open to beekeepers worldwide.
Whether you‘re a longtime competitor or entering for the first time, we invite you to share your honey and be part of this global tasting tradition.
More information here
Extreme heat waves disrupt honey bee thermoregulation and threaten colony survival
Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology (UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS JOURNALS)
Although honey bees have the ability to regulate hive temperatures, new research published in Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology shows that extreme summer heat can overwhelm these critical pollinators’ cooling systems, leading to significant colony population declines.
The research in ―Negative Effects of Excessive Heat on Colony Thermoregulation and Population Dynamics in Honey Bees,‖ conducted during a hot Arizona summer, monitored nine honey bee colonies through three months of temperatures that frequently exceeded 40°C (104°F). The results indicate that intensifying heat waves worldwide represent a significant threat to honey bees and the pollination services they provide.
“Honey bee colonies have well-documented mechanisms to cope with heat exposure,” write authors Jun Chen, Adrian Fisher II, Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Cahit Ozturk, Brian H. Smith, Jennifer H. Fewell, Yun Kang, Kylie Maxwell, Kynadi Overcash, Keerut Chahal, and Jon F. Harrison. “However, there have been no studies to date that have assessed the limits of such thermoregulation or how natural heat waves affect the capacity of honey bees colonies to thermoregulate and grow.”
The research team discovered that while colonies maintained average brood temperatures within the optimal 34-36°C range necessary for healthy development, significant daily temperature fluctuations still occurred. Developing bees in the brood center experienced nearly 1.7 hours below optimal temperatures and 1.6 hours above them each day. Conditions were even more extreme at the brood edges, where young bees spent almost 8 hours per day outside the optimal range.
These temperature swings had measurable consequences. Higher maximum air temperatures and greater temperature fluctuations within hives led to population declines. The study found that “excessive heat, with maximal temperatures exceeding 40°C, can reduce colony populations by impairing the thermoregulation of brood or by exposing adults to temperatures that shorten their lifespans.”
Colony size emerged as a critical factor in thermal protection. Larger colonies maintained more stable internal temperatures, with the smallest hives experiencing daily temperature swings of up to 11°C at the outer edges compared to 6°C in the largest colonies. This enhanced stability meant that developing bees and adult workers in larger colonies spent far less time exposed to potentially harmful temperature extremes.
Beyond Arizona, “Climate projections indicate that global average temperatures could rise by approximately 2.7°C by the end of the century, with potential increases up to 4°C under higher emission scenarios,” the authors note. Such warming would intensify heat wave frequency and severity worldwide. Additionally, high humidity may compound these challenges in many regions. The authors note that “high humidity significantly reduces the effectiveness of evaporative cooling – the primary mechanism honey bees use to regulate hive temperatures – potentially making thermoregulation even more difficult.”
The research has practical implications for beekeepers and agricultural systems that depend on honey bee pollination. The authors suggest that implementing effective management strategies, such as supplemental water provision, shading of hives, improved hive structure and materials that provide greater insulation, and ensuring high-quality forage will become increasingly important to mitigate impacts of high temperatures and maintain colony stability in a warming climate.