The Bee's Knees
Bees are intelligent, compassionate creatures responsible for 90% of the world’s food. They contribute to sustainable farming, biodiversity, environmental protection, and more. Listen in to learn about the wonderful world of native bees and how you can nurture the literal busy bees of Mother Nature.
Episodes
53 episodes
The Fungi Factor: The Surprising Discovery of Mold's Impact on Leafcutter Bees
Dive into the world of solitary leafcutter bees and discover how a seemingly undesirable mold could actually be their unlikely ally. Dr. Victoria Luizzi shares their fascinating research on Aspergillus mold, which might offer protective benefit...
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Season 3
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Episode 52
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15:13
Pollinators in Peril: How Habitat Loss, Pesticides, and Climate Change Are Threatening Our Ecosystem
In today's complex ecosystem, native bees play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity through their vital pollination efforts. However, their populations are under threat from various stressors such as climate change, habitat loss, and pes...
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Season 3
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Episode 51
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18:22
Building Buzz: Community Efforts to Support Native Bees
In this inspiring episode, we're joined by Caroline Wagar from Environment America to explore simple, impactful steps each of us can take to support native bees. From creating vibrant urban gardens to pioneering legislative efforts, discover ho...
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Season 3
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Episode 50
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13:59
Guardians of the Stingless Bees: Exploring the Mission to Sustain Melipona Bee Populations
In this episode of The Bee's Knees, we take a virtual journey to Mexico to explore the world of the melipona, a stingless honey bee essential for pollinating the Yucatan rainforest. Join us as Rebecca Robertson, founding director of the Mayan M...
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Season 3
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Episode 49
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14:27
Pollinators and the Art of Choice: Navigating the Chemistry of Floral Rewards
Ever wondered how bees choose their favorite flowers? Today we’re talking with Dr. Claire Hemingway who reveals fascinating insights into pollinator cognition and how bees' decisions impact biodiversity.
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Season 3
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Episode 48
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8:08
From Bloom to Boom: How PollinAction is Reviving Pollinator Populations
What can be done about the alarming decline in pollinator populations? Today, we’re talking about the PollinAction Project’s impactful initiatives with researcher Leonardo Lorenzato. Discover how creating green infrastructures, promoting econom...
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Season 3
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Episode 47
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21:24
Season 3: Bee Enthusiasts
Welcome to Season 3 of The Bee’s Knees! We’ll be talking to bee enthusiasts from around the globe, learning about the latest research and everyday opportunities to support and protect our native bees. Tune in for inspiring stories and actionabl...
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Season 3
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Episode 46
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1:49
Scent of Survival: How do Heatwaves Impact Bumblebees?
Today’s conversation explores how extreme temperatures disrupt the chemical communication between plants and bumblebees, specifically their ability to detect floral scents. Dr. Sabine Nooten explains her study findings on the impact of heat on ...
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Season 2
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Episode 45
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8:48
Urban Buzz: Transforming Pollination in Cityscapes
In our bustling urban environments, the complex dance of pollination continues, often unnoticed. This week's discussion dives into the intricacies of urban pollination ecology with Dr. Elsa Youngstead, exploring how plants and pollinators inter...
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Season 2
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Episode 44
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16:41
Bridging the Bumblebee 'Hungry Gap': Innovative Strategies for Pollinator Planting
Imagine sleeping for a couple of months, waking up and realizing you’ve got to build a house, get a job, raise some kids, and feed them. Bumblebee queens go through this every spring and it’s really a critical time for their survival. Today, we...
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Season 2
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Episode 43
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9:49
Winter Warriors: How to Help Overwintering Bees
How do native bees survive winter's chill? Discover how you can keep them warm and cozy this winter through simple actions like leaving autumn leaves undisturbed and holding off on your garden cleanup. We’ll also share the importance of perhaps...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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2:52
From Fields to Food: The Hidden Impact of Agricultural Intensification
In this episode of The Bee's Knees, we discuss the threats facing wild and native bees with Dr. Yi Zhou, an ecologist and entomologist. The discussion focuses on a study in South China's rice fields that revealed habitat loss as a more signific...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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8:36
Highs and Lows: How Elevation and Temperature Impact Bee Survival
In this episode, we dive into Dr. Lindsie McCabe's enlightening study on how changing temperatures impact the survival rates of cavity-nesting bees. Conducting a transplant experiment over three years, Dr. McCabe and her team uncovered how elev...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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14:58
Buzzing into Innovation: A Conversation with BeeMachine's Creator
In this episode of The Bee's Knees, we blend technology, science, and the natural world. Join us as we explore an innovative tool revolutionizing bee conservation – BeeMachine. This cutting-edge app utilizes artificial intelligence to help iden...
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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14:28
Free Spirits: Investigating Free-Living Nordic Honey Bee Colonies
Let’s explore the world of the Nordic honeybee, or Apis mellifera mellifera, a subspecies that once flourished across Southern Scandinavia, Central, and Western Europe. Today, in Sweden, a mere 1,000 of the 160,000 hives still house these nativ...
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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14:43
Buzzkill: Climate Change and the Looming Threat to Pollinators
We’re exploring the challenges faced by native bees due to rising temperatures and drier conditions. Dr. Melanie Kazenel discusses her research using a 16-year dataset from New Mexico's drylands, revealing that while some bee species show resil...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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21:41
Floral Foes: How Non-Native Bees Impact Native Ecosystems
What are the indirect effects of honey bee introductions on native bee populations and plant pollination patterns? Dr. Maureen Page joins us to share the unique roles that native bees play in our ecosystems, highlighting their differences from ...
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Season 2
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Episode 36
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14:32
From Bees to Biodiversity: Shaping the Future of Ecosystem Services
How important are rare and declining bee species for pollinating various wildflowers and crops? We’re talking about that in this episode with Dr. Mark Genung who introduces us to ecosystem function theory and the broader implications for biodiv...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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14:06
Bee Blooms: The Australian Edition
From the temperate regions of Tasmania to the tropical landscapes of Queensland, every corner of Australia offers unique challenges and opportunities for our vital native bees. Today we’re speaking with Dr. Kit Prendergast about the intricate w...
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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16:29
Bumble Bees and Pesticides: How Agricultural Practices Threaten Wild Bees
Every day native bees fly and forage under a shadow — the threat from pesticides. Today we’re talking with Dr. Charlie Nicholson who guides us through the dangers that agricultural pesticide use poses to our vital pollinators and introduces us ...
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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23:30
Fruitful Futures: Growing Orchards for Native Bees
Research underscores the remarkable efficiency of wild bees over their honey-producing counterparts in pollinating fruit trees, a critical insight for agriculture and biodiversity. Today we’re exploring the verdant orchards of Ireland with Garr...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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18:06
Buzzworthy Bites: A Deep Dive into the Nutritional Habits of Bees
It’s not news that the food we eat should be nutritious, but are the floral resources we provide to bees actually what they need? We explore the intricate world of bee nutrition with our guest Dr. Sarah Leonhardt. We chat about the import...
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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14:48
Nature's Little Heroes: Celebrating World Bee Day and International Day for Biological Diversity
The month of May buzzes with significance for our tiny yet mighty bees. We kick off with World Bee Day on May 20, a global celebration aiming to spotlight the critical role bees and other pollinators play in ensuring food security, promoting su...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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5:17
Buzzing Backyard Biodiversity: Fostering Native Bee Habitats
Providing nesting areas and floral resources for bees contributes to the conservation of biodiversity. Taking care of our native bees is one of the best ways to safeguard our environment. We’re speaking with Justina Block who shares her journey...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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17:37
Bee-friendly Lawns: Mowing Less is a Big Win for Bees
Let your lawn become a haven for bees! Did you know that by mowing less and nurturing the wildflowers that bring them joy, you can support bee abundance and diversity? Today, we’re talking with Dr. Susannah Lerman about her research study that ...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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20:48