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Reposted by Harriet Lambert

Science Magazine @science.org · 20/05/2025

Facing a scarcity of pollen, bumblebees will nibble on the leaves of flowerless plants, causing intentional damage in a way that speeds up the production of flowers, according to a Science study from 2020. Learn more on #WorldBeeDay: scim.ag/45hwgqy

scim.ag

Bumble bees damage plant leaves and accelerate flower production when pollen is scarce

Bumble bees manipulate plants to bring about earlier flowering.

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Harriet Lambert @hcslambert.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

🌟 Throwback to my 2020 research published in @science.org 🌼🐝We showed how bumble bees actively shape their environment—making plants flower earlier to meet their needs. Nature’s engineers in action!🧪🌏 Sharing this for anyone who missed it—let’s dive in![1/17] 👇

Graphical abstract of science paper 'bumble bee damage plant leaves and accelerate flower production' with a list of the authors on a grey background. On the left is a watercolour illustration of a bumble bee damaging a plant leaf with the description 'when hungry for pollen, bumble bees use their mouthparts and mandibles to damage plant leaves'. this illustration is connected by a orange arrow to a watercolour drawing of a flowering yellow black mustard plant with a bumble bee. This has the description: 2) the damage inflicted by bees causes plants to flower earlier than paired control plants.

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Harriet Lambert @hcslambert.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Hello again! I research the ecology, evolution, and conservation of social bees. I study how plant-pollinator interactions shape ecosystems, including the ecological and evolutionary impacts of bumble bee leaf-damaging behavior. 🐝 Follow for buzzing insights into pollinators and conservation! 💛🌏

Photo of a female buff tailed bumble bee worker wearing a little QR code glued to its thorax in order to track it during behavioural assays.

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Harriet Lambert @hcslambert.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Love Bumble bees? 🐝 Dive into pollination, microbiomes, foraging secrets, and ecosystem resilience. A starter pack for buzzing discoveries! 🌼💛 Explore here: go.bsky.app/Gq3vvkj

go.bsky.app

🐝 Bumble Bee Research Starter Pack 🐝

Join the conversation

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Reposted by Harriet Lambert

Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Please Share. Postdoc available with me on Pollinator Microbiomes. To develop/engineer microbial communities that protect bees from stressors. Collaborating with Quinn McFrederick (UCR) & Marc-Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial). www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-jobs/description/index.php?jobId=21816

imperial.ac.uk

Description

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...

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Harriet Lambert @hcslambert.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Hello, Bluesky! 🌼🐝 Starting fresh here feels like stepping into a vibrant new space —buzzing with possibility and discovery. To kick things off, here’s a doodle of a bumble bee doing its weekly shop at the flower supermarket—always stocking up on nectar deals! 🛒✨ #ScienceCommunity #BumbleBees

This is a water colour drawing of a bumble bee flying in the air and pushing a shopping cart through a supermarket. A sign marking Grocery hangs above her head as she peruses the isles marked with boxes, sacks and jars with different flower drawings on them.

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