Even sublethal insecticide dose may disrupt pollinator mating process

Even sublethal insecticide dose may disrupt pollinator mating process

Insecticides can help protect crops against troublesome pests, but they also pose a risk for beneficial insects such as pollinators. A new study provided insight into how even sublethal doses of insecticides can negatively affect pollinators by disrupting the mating process.

Extreme events induced by climate change alter nectar offer to pollinators in cross pollination-dependent crops

Both severe reductions and increases in rainfall can stress plants and modify floral traits involved in plant-pollinator interactions, such as nectar production. Animal pollination is responsible for most plant species’ reproduction including several crops that rely especially on bees for fruit and seed production. Thus, extreme climate events can cause disruptions in pollination mutualism and lead to a decrease in the production of many crops w…

Climate change, drought hit Thal's gram crop

The gram crop across hundreds of acres in the rain-fed lands of Thal has suffered an sharp decline due to prolonged drought and the impact of climate change, pushing local farmers into financial distress. In recent years, the region has witnessed a continuous shortfall in rainfall, leaving the soil parched and unsuitable for traditional farming. As a result, gram - once the signature crop of the Thal region - has been reduced to a fraction of it…

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By Kristee SemmlerBees are so incredibly important. They play a vital role in pollinating a large percentage of the food we eat (up to two-thirds of Australia's food requires pollination by bees!). In the home garden, they help pollinate the fruit...