Latest news with #Beekeepers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This dog used to sniff out cold cases for police. Now she's saving bees.
Equipped with her own tailored bee suit and a hood to cover her floppy ears, Maple - a former police dog - has an important retirement task: helping save thousands of honeybee hives. The canine has spent the past five months sniffing Michigan bee colonies for American foulbrood, a highly contagious bacteria that's fatal to the insects. Maple, an English springer spaniel, uses her extraordinary sense of smell as a 'high-speed screening tool' to prevent beekeepers from having to manually inspect every hive. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. American foulbrood only becomes detectable to humans by smell when it reaches severe infection, at which point the colony risks death, said Meghan Milbrath, a researcher and assistant professor of entomology at Michigan State University. 'She basically just turns all of that effort into a few minutes of her running around sniffing,' Milbrath said of the 9-year-old dog, who works at MSU's Pollinator Performance Center. The ultimate goal is for Maple's work to serve as a blueprint for teaching canines to detect honeybee diseases. It's part of a larger bee conservation effort in a record-breaking year for colony death in the United States, according to a survey by Apiary Inspectors of America, Auburn University and Oregon State University. The losses appear primarily driven by pesticides, pathogens, poor nutrition and pests, Milbrath said. The colony losses, estimated at 56 percent in the year beginning in April 2024, result in an 'increasing challenge to meeting the demand for crop pollination and honey production in the U.S.,' the survey said. Maple follows the paw prints of other 'bee dogs' across the country that have delved into conservation - including Darwin, a German shorthaired pointer in North Carolina; Mack, a retired Labrador retriever from Maryland; and Mack's successor, Tukka, a springer spaniel. Maple's crossover into bee conservation came after she medically retired from police work, said her longtime handler, Sue Stejskal, who is also new to beekeeping. Stejskal said Maple took a misstep and got injured while they were working on a cold case in Canada, forcing her to step away in April 2024 after seven years as a human-remains detection dog. Stejskal retired alongside Maple. Fortuitously, Stejskal was introduced to Milbrath around the same time that the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture opened applications for grant funding. The team at MSU pitched a project on developing beekeeper resources and managing bacterial disease, agreeing that Maple and Stejskal would bring the expertise needed for the endeavor. Although Maple's new 'target odor' is distinct from her previous job, Stejskal said the fundamentals remain the same. Handlers expose the canines to a scent, offer a reward and teach the dog to conduct an action that means they've found the odor they're looking for. In Maple's case, she sits when she detects the smell. But bee colonies introduce many new and exciting smells for a dog's finely tuned nose. Stejskal said she has to train Maple to be familiar and comfortable with the new environment so the pup can focus on the target odor. 'And then the caveat with working around bees is, we had to outfit her,' Stejskal said. Stejskal worked with her daughter-in-law to fashion personal protective equipment for Maple. The duo picked out a children's bee suit and modified its measurements, though Stejskal said they were still perfecting it. Stejskal adjusts the bee suit to match the weather, at times adding a cooling vest, and she ensures Maple takes water breaks when necessary. Maple also wears dog boots to complete the outfit. Stejskal said she and Maple - a family since the dog was 10 weeks old - have enjoyed delving into bee conservation together. 'It's both of our retirement things. She's happy; it works for her,' Stejskal said of Maple. 'I call it work; for her, it's play.' Related Content He builds sand sculptures for joy. A huge carving of Crocs put him on the map. Why we're still obsessed with Lindsay Lohan They once shared recipes. Now her family is going hungry in Gaza.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Meet the murder hornet's Canadian cousin
'Murder hornets' have been making a buzz in the media for years for their immense size and deadly behaviour. Also called the northern giant hornet (formerly the Asian giant hornet), these terrifying insects were first detected in Canada in 2019, near Nanaimo, B.C. This invasive species poses a huge threat to Canada's ecosystems, as they are known to quickly destroy entire bee colonies, which are essential in maintaining healthy ecosystems. RELATED: Each summer, people across Canada will report murder hornet sightings. However, experts are quick to clarify that the sightings people commonly report are actually European hornets—a species that was introduced to North America over 160 years ago and has become part of Canada's natural ecosystem. While they were introduced, this does not make them invasive as they have naturally integrated with the environment and are not harmful. Both insect species belong to the family Vespa, but there are some big differences between the two. Murder hornets, formally called northern giant hornets, are invasive to Canada and pose a major risk to native bee colonies and our ecosystems. (Yasunori Koide/Wikimedia Commons) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets versus murder hornets European hornets are found in Eastern Canada and can look scarily similar to the murder hornet. They are much larger than the yellowjackets that we are used to seeing each summer but are actually a lot smaller than murder hornets. They have a similar striped pattern on their abdomens to murder hornets, but the key difference is that their abdomens are yellow, whereas the murder hornets are more yellow-orange. SEE ALSO: Unlike murder hornets, European hornets don't pose a threat to other native insect species and ecosystems. While they do sometimes eat bees, they don't destroy entire colonies and can actually provide bees protection from other predatory insects, such as wax moths. European hornets can be found in Canada and are often mistaken for the murder hornet (northern giant hornet). (Dr. Guido Bohne/iNaturalist) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets also create paper nests similar to those made by paper wasps and yellowjackets. Conversely, murder hornets build their nests underground around tree roots. Like any other stinging insect, the European hornet can get aggressive when you invade its territory or grab at it, but they otherwise try to avoid interacting with people. They do have a soft spot for sweet fruits, though, and you may see more of them buzz around you in the late summer and early fall as their natural food sources begin to dwindle. Despite their scary appearance, European hornets are important for our ecosystems, providing natural pest control and pollination services. If you believe you have spotted a murder hornet in Canada and are able to take a photo as proof, you can report it to the Invasive Species Centre. Thumbnail image credit to Judy Gallagher/iNaturalist CC-BY-SA 4.0
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Meet the murder hornet's Canadian cousin
'Murder hornets' have been making a buzz in the media for years for their immense size and deadly behaviour. Also called the northern giant hornet (formerly the Asian giant hornet), these terrifying insects were first detected in Canada in 2019, near Nanaimo, B.C. This invasive species poses a huge threat to Canada's ecosystems, as they are known to quickly destroy entire bee colonies, which are essential in maintaining healthy ecosystems. RELATED: Each summer, people across Canada will report murder hornet sightings. However, experts are quick to clarify that the sightings people commonly report are actually European hornets—a species that was introduced to North America over 160 years ago and has become part of Canada's natural ecosystem. While they were introduced, this does not make them invasive as they have naturally integrated with the environment and are not harmful. Both insect species belong to the family Vespa, but there are some big differences between the two. Murder hornets, formally called northern giant hornets, are invasive to Canada and pose a major risk to native bee colonies and our ecosystems. (Yasunori Koide/Wikimedia Commons) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets versus murder hornets European hornets are found in Eastern Canada and can look scarily similar to the murder hornet. They are much larger than the yellowjackets that we are used to seeing each summer but are actually a lot smaller than murder hornets. They have a similar striped pattern on their abdomens to murder hornets, but the key difference is that their abdomens are yellow, whereas the murder hornets are more yellow-orange. SEE ALSO: Unlike murder hornets, European hornets don't pose a threat to other native insect species and ecosystems. While they do sometimes eat bees, they don't destroy entire colonies and can actually provide bees protection from other predatory insects, such as wax moths. European hornets can be found in Canada and are often mistaken for the murder hornet (northern giant hornet). (Dr. Guido Bohne/iNaturalist) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets also create paper nests similar to those made by paper wasps and yellowjackets. Conversely, murder hornets build their nests underground around tree roots. Like any other stinging insect, the European hornet can get aggressive when you invade its territory or grab at it, but they otherwise try to avoid interacting with people. They do have a soft spot for sweet fruits, though, and you may see more of them buzz around you in the late summer and early fall as their natural food sources begin to dwindle. Despite their scary appearance, European hornets are important for our ecosystems, providing natural pest control and pollination services. If you believe you have spotted a murder hornet in Canada and are able to take a photo as proof, you can report it to the Invasive Species Centre. Thumbnail image credit to Judy Gallagher/iNaturalist CC-BY-SA 4.0
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fake Beekeeper 2 Trailer Sees Jason Statham's AI Return
A recently circulated trailer for has been generating considerable excitement online, featuring reprising the leading role. The narrative appears to delve into the story of operative Adam Clay, who returns to embark on a relentless quest for vengeance. However, a lingering question among fans is whether the trailer is authentic or merely a fan-made AI creation. Without further ado, here is all the information you need regarding the rumored trailer for Jason Statham's The Beekeeper 2. No, The Beekeeper 2 movie trailer featuring Jason Statham is AI-generated and fan-made. The popular YouTube channel, KH Studio, recognized for its fan-made trailers, revealed the aforementioned trailer on Sunday, February 23, 2025. This channel, known for producing conceptual trailers, showcased this latest work featuring Statham returning in the lead role of Adam Kay, AKA the Beekeeper. As of this writing, the video has amassed over 156,000 views and received 1.8K likes. Check out KH Studio's The Beekeeper 2 trailer below: The Beekeeper 2's trailer presents a blend of footage from the first film and AI-generated imagery, offering a novel interpretation of the much-awaited sequel. Moreover, numerous viewers found it challenging to differentiate between reality and the digitally created elements in this clip, as the makers used an AI voiceover of Jason Statham to mimic and make it look real. Nevertheless, it is important to note that KH Studio's The Beekeeper 2 trailer is not real. The Beekeeper 2 has not yet been officially confirmed. However, reports suggest that it is in development. Earlier, The Beekeeper was released in theaters on January 12, 2024, and achieved global box office success. While a sequel is much expected, the makers haven't yet shared any announcements on the same. However, director David Ayer did address the possibility of The Beekeeper 2 in an earlier interview. Speaking to Inverse, Ayer shared, We cracked the door a little bit into the Beekeeper world, and I would love to learn more about them. I'm extremely curious: Where do they come from? Who are they? How do they operate? What happened in the system? Did it break? Did the Beekeepers break? Do we have to fix the Beekeepers? Who fixes the Beekeepers when the Beekeepers need fixing?' The filmmaker added, 'It's just an amazing mythology. There's so much room to explore.' While the sequel hasn't been officially greenlit yet, it is anticipated that if The Beekeeper 2 is indeed announced in the future, Jason Statham will return for his iconic role. The post Fake Beekeeper 2 Trailer Sees Jason Statham's AI Return appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
