A Biotech Startup Is Boosting Bee Endurance with Supplements
As environmental threats kill off honeybees, scientists are figuring out how to maximize the pollination potential of those that remain.
A honeybee enjoying a sugar-syrup treat.
Photo courtesy of Beeflow
On a sunny afternoon in December, Angelita De la Luz placed a honeybee into a tube at a laboratory in Buenos Aires. Soon after, a pump released a small, scented puff of air and researchers watched for a very specific reaction: a scent that would make the bee stick out its tongue.
“This tells us that the bee recognizes the volatile we are testing as a meaningful signal from the plant; that there is good food to be found,” says De la Luz, who leads field testing at California-based biotech startup Beeflow. A volatile is a floral characteristic that attracts honeybees, among other functions. Once Beeflow identifies the right one, De la Luz and her colleagues will develop it into bee feed used to “train” honey bees to pollinate targeted crops.