By Evan Palmer-Young:

Bee bacteria thrive in niche warm,

giving parasites cause for alarm

When stewed in their acid,

invaders grow flaccid

When heated, They ooze sour charm

bioRxiv; 2023. p. 2023.03.20.533504. doi:10.1101/2023.03.20.533504

By Evan Palmer-Young:

Though high temperatures needed by bee
Plants and insects of viruses free,
'Stead of parasite toast
Seems warm blood of bee host
Stokes the fire of DWV

doi:10.1038/s42003-023-04704-6

I welcome others to promote their work with a verse! #Science_Poetry

When pollen comes from overseas
Is it safe to feed our bees?
We think that it might be wise
To test the ways we sterilize.
We put three methods to the test;
Ethylene oxide was the best.
doi.org/10.1093/jee/to…
#Science_Poetry

By Don Weber ("cux" = cucurbits):

Stripes and spots

Love dem cux

Bees too

In the yellow dawn.

Happy New Year everyone!

Time for poetry by Evan Palmer-Young:

Fields of sunflower blooming in sight
yield for many a bee a delight.
But with bright yellow joy
displaced by corn and soy,
honey bees could lose balm for their mites

doi.org/10.1093/jee/to…

by Evan Palmer-Young:
Diverse flagellates in insects writhe
Yet in honey bees few remain blythe

Match of parasite-host
Unexplained still for most

Could be shaped by plant compounds' sharp scythe

doi.org/10.1111/1462-2…
youtu.be/u_HY0VakaDo

By Don Weber ("cux" = cucurbits):

Stripes and spots

Love dem cux

Bees too

In the yellow dawn.

Understanding the effects of floral products on bee parasites: Mechanisms, synergism and ecological complexity. Our new paper with @HaukeKoch @Science_Poetry #GordonFitch and #LauraFigueroa @UMassAmherst sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Who spreads bee disease?
Certainly bees, but who else?
Flies! Darn Diptera.

By Scott McArt

Davis et al. Eristalis flower flies can be mechanical vectors of the common trypanosome bee parasite, Crithidia bombi. Sci Rep 11, 15852 (2021). doi.org/10.1038/s41598…

@Science_Poetry

by David Hik

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
Where the pikas and marmots scurry
Now smaller bugs are bigger players
Our plant-herbivore interactions have many more layers
And warming climate is an increasing worry.

@Science_Poetry #Science_Poetry

By Evan Palmer-Young:
Hot and sour: parasite adaptations to honey bee body temperature and pH
doi: doi.org/10.1101/2021.0…

Heat and acid in honey bee hosts
Mimic mammals' Leishmania moats
Low-pH gut ferment
Structures flagellates' ascent
Heat from honey makes parasites toast

For science, poetry and bugs lovers:
A Natural History of Insects in 100 Limericks:
mailchi.mp/pelagicpublish…

I have no affiliation or inside knowledge, this just sounded cool!

Sorry for the looong silence! That latest delightful piece refers to:

Adler et al. 2020. Assessing chemical mechanisms underlying the effects of sunflower pollen on a gut pathogen in bumble bees. Journal of Chemical Ecology 46(8): 649-658. DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01168-4

By Lynn Adler:

Sunflower pollen reduces disease.
But how does it function in helping the bees?
It must be the chemicals, so we tried them first.
We tested some compounds in several bursts.
Alas; no effect! What more can we try?
Maybe spikes on the pollen make pathogens die.

By Evan Palmer-Young:

When sweat, bumble, and mason bees sip
Parasites on their guts get a grip

Two Crithidia were found
Swimming 'cross species bounds

Many bees could thus share a bad tryp.

dx.doi.org/10.1017/S00311…

By Lynn Adler

Beautiful flowers
Such important food for bees
But spread disease too.

doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2…

Ray-Ban sunglasses Special today only $ 24.99 each! One day only! glasseoe.top

By Jeff Podos:

When angler fish want to be sure
To capture crustaceans and more.
They hang out fake bait
Prey swim to their fate
This tactic relies on allure

By Jeff Podos:

The earthworm, of origins humble
Will flee from a mole's digging rumble.
Yet 'times it's a ploy
To worm-grunters great joy
Worms' fate? Bait, a squirmy pink jumble.