See All Pollinators

The honey bee colony lifestyle is closely linked to the seasons when the availability of flowering plants, temperature, and precipitation vary dramatically.

This short 2-part video provides an overview of colony reproduction and illustrates a simple step-by-step method for dividing or splitting a colony.

This article discusses the beneficial pollinators that overwinter in the garden and best practices for providing habitat for them.

While springtime can often mean ants coming into the kitchen, other insects and animals are hard at work outside pollinating plants.

Learn about the importance of mason bees as pollinators and how to encourage their activity in your garden.

People who complain about bumble bees flying about under their homes' eaves are probably being annoyed by carpenter bees (Xylocopa virginica).

Learn the importance of native pollinators in Pennsylvania.

At least 437 species of bees contribute to pollinating Pennsylvania's natural areas, gardens, and agricultural crops. Learn more about how they are classified, their lifestyles, and how documenting bee species in Pennsylvania improves our knowledge about their populations and distributions.

While spring is the beginning of the beekeeping season, early blooming plants not only feed honey bees but also hundreds of native solitary bee species that emerge at around the same time.

Pumpkin fruit set can be affected by a number of production and environmental factors.

In the fall, bees and wasps are on the hunt for sweets or carbohydrates, the primary energy source that keeps them flying and active for other routine activities.

Honey bee breeding is a long-term, labor-intensive process that is becoming more popular and accessible.

A glimpse into the bustling milkweed insect community.

Apple, pear, and sweet cherry trees, unlike peaches, apricots and tart cherries, need cross pollination.

La loque americana únicamente afecta a las larvas de la abeja de miel, debilita a la colonial y provocando rápidamente su muerte.

In this video, Dr. Biddinger discusses wild bees, managed honey bees, and mason bees and best management practices for pollination in apple and cherry orchards in Pennsylvania.

European honey bees are the primary managed pollinators in orchards because their abundance can be managed from year to year.

Managed pollinators like honey bees and mason bees are important pollinators for orchards, but research suggests that wild bees also contribute significantly to fruit tree pollination.

Pollination involves the integration of several biological and physical factors, including cultivar compatibility, synchronous blooming, insects, and proper weather conditions.

Blueberries (genus Vaccinium) are a high-value crop in Pennsylvania and the United States, with an estimated value of at least $825 million to the US economy in 2014.

Growers of bee-pollinated crops, particularly apples, may be interested in the possible use of solitary bees as pollinators.

Queen production allows beekeepers greater autonomy and independence, enabling individuals to better meet the goals of honey production, pollination, colony production, and genetic selection.

Honey bees are infected with many different kinds of viruses. However, most virus infections are not problematic, if the honey bee colony is healthy and does not experience chronic stress.

El parásito Varroa destructor (Figura 1) es actualmente la plaga más importante de la abeja de miel occidental (Apis mellifera).

Honey bee colony behavior is dynamic and extremely adaptable, which allows for easy manipulation and management of these amazing social insects.