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Bees Alter Heat Response as Hive Losses Hit Record and Research Funding Faces Cuts

New research shows bees slow their wingbeats to lower body temperature, which curbs essential foraging and mating activities.

Overview

  • Under extreme heat, bees reduce wingbeat frequency while increasing wingbeat intensity, and seek shade or nest interiors to maintain safe body temperatures.
  • By limiting these activities on the hottest days, bees spend less time foraging for nectar and have fewer mating opportunities, undermining colony productivity.
  • U.S. beekeepers reported a 56% loss of managed honeybee colonies this year, the highest rate recorded since 2010.
  • High temperatures have impeded formic acid treatments for parasitic mites and disrupted floral bloom timing, creating additional hive management hurdles.
  • The White House’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for the USGS Bee Lab and related programs, risking a halt to critical pollinator research that underpins crop yields for almonds, apples and other fruits.