Bees
Clever honey bees can count
They only have a million brain cells compared to our billions, but bees are far from being mindless drones - they are, so far, the only insect that can comphrehend zero. Audio
NZ's healthy bee population masks serious threats
High demand for Manuka honey has fueled a "gold rush" in the industry and is driving up the demand for hives. Bee numbers are high with 887,510 registered beehives in the country producing almost… Audio
Jenny Jandt: why we should love wasps and ants
University of Otago insect researcher Dr Jenny Jandt is in love with creatures most of us try to exterminate - wasps and ants. She's known as the Wasp Lady and says there's much to be admired in both… Audio, Gallery
Too many bees prompt fears beekeepers will go bust
The jump in the popularity and price of manuka honey in recent years has meant a boom in production, prompting beekeepers to warn that some are at risk of going bust. Audio
Murchison bee deaths now a police matter
Police are investigating after tests confirmed that poison was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of bees on a Murchison property in January.
Wasp cull suspected over bee poisonings
A Murchison beekeeper faces possibly $100,000 in losses after the - likely accidental - poisoning of hives in the area.
Maja Lunde - The History of Bees
Norwegian Maja Lunde is the author of several books for children and young adults, and is also a screen writer for film and television. Her debut novel for adults, international best-seller The… Audio
Push for tighter rules for selling bees on Trade Me
Beekeepers are worried Trade Me could be used by unregistered beekeepers to sell beehives, which could unwittingly spread pests and diseases. Audio
Bunnings bins pesticide thought to harm bees
Bee experts say the ban will garner good publicity for Bunnings but is unlikely to have much effect.
Bunnings ban on pesticide just for show
The nation-wide hardware chain Bunnings says it will stop selling some pesticide products by the end of the year because of concerns they are harmful to bees. Audio
Science of Life - bees with Dr Simon Pollard
Bees - honey bees, dancing bees, diplomatic bees - they're incredibly clever and when you watch them up close, they're just fascinating. Audio
This Way Up for Saturday 21 October 2017
This week, the US opioid epidemic shows no sign of letting up, will this become a local problem? Using bacteria to mine precious metals from e-waste, in Naked Science, skin memory cells that enable… Audio
The global decline of the honey bee
Working with bees that died as a result of pesticide drift, photographer and beekeeper Anne Noble is highlighting the global decline of the honey bee using their wings as a photogram. Anne Noble's… Audio
Scientists discover high rates of pesticides in honey
Dr Chris Smith has the latest on pesticides in honey and growing kidney diseases in a dish to develop new treatments. Audio
Miniscule amounts of neonic pesticides harmful - research
Neonic pesticides are "extremely harmful" to bees and other non-target species, even in barely-measurable amounts, new research shows.
Beekeeper arrested after mass hive thefts
Police have arrested a beekeeper in relation to the theft of nearly $200,000 worth of beehives in the Bay of Plenty.
Bee petition launched for Bee Aware Month
New Zealand Gardener magazine has joined the worldwide campaign to ban pesticides which are harming bees. Audio
As busy as a bee
James Malcolm first got the honey bug from a beekeeper who worked on his parents cropping farm near Ashburton. Now the hard working 29-year-old owns thousands of hives. Audio
Canadian breaks face-blanketing bee record
A Canadian man has broken a world record the hard way by covering his head in bees for just over an hour in downtown Toronto. Video, Audio
Taking on the Giant
The giant willow aphid is infesting willows, apple and pear trees, some native trees and shelterbelts on some kiwifruit orchards. Entomologist Stephanie Sopow is heading to the United States to search… Audio