The coal mining industry in West Virginia was a reliable source of income for thousands of people across the state—until the jobs started to dry up. In 1990, about 132,000 people worked as coal miners in West Virginia, compared to just 53,000 in 2018. The decline of coal mining in the region has left many… Continue Reading
Have you heard the buzz? Four species of California’s native bumble bees will soon be protected under state law. The California Fish and Game Commission recently voted to begin the process of classifying the four species as endangered. Last year, a coalition of food safety and conservation groups kicked things off by filing a legal… Continue Reading
If you’ve ever studied the behavior of bees, you may have learned that some species use a “waggle dance” to communicate with hive mates about the location of food sources. About 10 out of 500 bee species are known to dance—but it appears to be going out of style, and humans may be the cause.… Continue Reading
Are you a beekeeper (or aspiring beekeeper) living in Virginia? Do you like free stuff? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you’ll be pleased to learn that beekeepers in Virginia can apply to receive free equipment, starting July 1. In an effort to counteract hive losses due to disease and exotic pests,… Continue Reading
A new study suggests that bees can be trained to understand numerical symbols, implying that these fascinating creatures are capable of tackling far more complex cognitive tasks than previously thought. In a paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, an Australian and French research team claims to have taught honeybees to match… Continue Reading