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Category: Research News

Recent entomological research from ESA journals, members, and beyond

closeup view of corner of a hivetop incubator on top of a honey bee hive box. the incubator is a wide, shallow box about two inches tall, topped with a wood panel. in the picture, near the corner of the incubator is a hole about a half-inch in diameter, and several Osmia lignaria bees are gathered on the outside of the box near the hole.

Honey Bee Heat Warms Up Fellow Pollinators for Early-Season Blooms

An incubator that draws excess heat from a honey bee hive warms up managed Osmia lignaria bees so they can pollinate early-blooming fruit trees such as cherry, apple, and almond. A new study shows the hivetop incubators are effective, with little effect on the honey bee hive temps below.

closeup view of two white wasp larvae in an opened tube nest; one larva is curled and feeding on the other larva

Why Larvae of One Wasp Species Often Eat Their Siblings

Sibling rivalry takes a grim turn in the parasitoid wasp species Isodontia harmandi, as larvae commonly cannibalize their nest mates. A new study suggests the stronger larvae eat their siblings both to grab an easy meal and to reduce competition for the food provided by their mother.