• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Australian Times News
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Scientists look to give Australia’s busy bees a helping hand

Wilbee the Bumble Bee is in trouble. Aussie researchers are trying to help by creating an early warning system for beekeepers.

Mike Simpson by Mike Simpson
11-08-2021 03:00
in News
Image by Thomas Völcker from Pixabay

Image by Thomas Völcker from Pixabay

In a two-year pilot program, scientists from Macquarie University in Sydney are to test whether high-precision electronic sensors can monitor hive temperatures and alert beekeepers when precious bee colonies are in danger.

The new project aims to support Australia’s dwindling honeybee population with automated early-warning systems for when hives are at risk.

Philanthropic organisation, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, has awarded a $300,000 grant for the research. It is hoped the sensors in the hives will be capable of alerting beekeepers to fluctuations in temperature which may indicate a decline in hive health.

Project lead, Professor Andrew Barron, said a robust early-warning signal that a hive is starting to struggle will give beekeepers the opportunity to intervene before it’s too late.

“The hope is that we’ll find an easy-to-measure signal that reliably tells us when a colony is in trouble at the earliest possible point, so we can direct beekeepers’ efforts to where they’ll make the greatest impact for the greatest benefit,” he explained.

Few indicators that a hive is at risk

Monitoring bee health is difficult as there are very few indicators that a hive is at risk until it’s too late to salvage. However, it is hoped that monitoring temperature through these inexpensive remote sensors could provide vital early red flags.

When a colony is healthy, bees maintain the hive temperature at 35°C – the ideal temperature for them and their larvae. But when colonies are struggling, temperature regulation – which bees manage through activities like fanning water droplets throughout the hive – becomes difficult.

AlsoRead...

May's Weather Forecast

Weather Forecast 28 June 2022

28 June 2022
Wimbledon

Wimbledon tournament: All you need to know about the competition

27 June 2022

Australia’s bees are already under stress. About a third of food crops depend on bee pollination, but there is a shortfall in the number of bees meeting demand. For example, 65 percent of all bees in NSW are used for almond pollination alone – meaning that supply is short for other major crops including canola, carrot, apple, cherries and berries.

AgriFutures Australia estimates bee pollination to be worth $4-6- billion to the economy at current levels, with that number expected to grow as demand continues to increase.

On top of this shortfall, factors such as pesticides, disease and climate change are impacting bee numbers.

NSW bushfires devastated many hives

For example, the 2019-20 bushfires in NSW had a devastating impact on the state’s 250,000 hives – 10,000 were incinerated while another 90,000 lost their bee population due to the common response of bees abandoning a hive if fire or smoke is approaching.

“Beekeepers are really good and skilful at intervening and strengthening colonies, and giving them what they need to be healthy,” said Professor Barron.

“What we’ve realised, though, is that when a honeybee colony is under a lot of stress, it can actually look like it’s doing okay until it’s pushed right to the edge of collapse.

“If we can identify when a hive is in trouble early enough, we’ve got more options to have a beekeeper intervene and rescue that colony.”

The project is set to begin in November and will run until October 2023.

Tags: Australian scientistsBeesenvironmentScientific research
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

[mc4wp_form id=”2384248″]

Don't Miss

Horoscopes: 28 June 2022 – Tuesday

by Adamu
28 June 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 28 June 2022

by Adamu
28 June 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Love Island: Amber speaks out after speedy Dami and Indiya recoupling

by Shannon Alexander
27 June 2022
Love Island
Lifestyle

On the recent episode of After Sun, Amber and Ikenna shared their feelings on being dumped from Love island More...

Read more

Bespoke audio solutions to elevate your living space

by Shingai Mhlanga
27 June 2022
audio solutions
Technology

From Wilson Audio to Dan D'Agostino, Trinnov to Estelon or Rotel, Distinction Audio is a one-stop shop for all of...

Read more

Instant Booking of Golf Courses Dubai – The Best Golf Breaks & Deals

by Alan Aldridge
27 June 2022
Instant Booking of Golf Courses Dubai – The Best Golf Breaks & Deals
Lifestyle

Book a golf holiday in Dubai land is not a tough task for interested people because with the help of...

Read more

Alia Bhatt: Bollywood’s biggest star announces pregnancy

by Shannon Alexander
27 June 2022
Alia Bhatt
Lifestyle

On Instagram this morning, one of Bollywood's biggest stars Alia Bhatt has announced she is expecting her first child with...

Read more

Jodie Sweetin shoved by LAPD during Roe vs Wade peaceful protest

by Shannon Alexander
27 June 2022
Jodie Sweetin
Lifestyle

Amid the government’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade last week, Jodie Sweetin was among many in the peaceful protest...

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status