Read California bee news alongside pollinator stories from Arizona and Nevada, including how beekeepers respond when bees swarm.
Bee conservation in your region
California bee news from orchards and cities
During California’s almond bloom, beekeepers face a problem few shoppers see: hive theft. Another story examines how some colonies cope with a threat to their health. At an Arizona ballpark, a beekeeper faced a different challenge when a swarm settled behind home plate.
Is it a swarm or a colony inside a building?
A cluster hanging from an open branch is often a resting swarm. Scout bees search for a new home while the group waits. Bees repeatedly entering a wall opening may already have comb inside. The University of California recommends calling a beekeeper if a cluster needs removal. Describe where the bees are and whether you see a hanging cluster or steady traffic through an opening.
University of California guidance on honey bee swarms
Looking for a Nevada bee? The University of Nevada, Reno reports that the state has more than 1,000 bee species. Its Nevada pollinator resource library includes an identification guide and regional sources for garden plants. Use it to compare a bee you photographed with examples from your part of the state.
From the archives
California bee news archive
These California bees are beating a killer that’s wiping out colonies
A tough California hybrid bee may have quietly evolved a natural defense against one of the deadliest threats to honeybees.
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California city tried to stamp out 10-year-old’s beehive project. Saving the bees was a lesson in love
SANTA ROSA – Santa Rosa ordered 10-year-old Nicholas Bard to remove his colony of thousands of European bees, citing zoning law violations.
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Swarm of bees delays Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles game in Arizona. A ‘MVP’ beekeeper came to the rescue
PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was delayed Tuesday night because of an invasion of bees that formed a hive in the netting behind home plate.
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Bee rustling season peaks as California almond trees blossom
The state’s annual almond tree blossom in February and March is the world’s largest pollination event and requires billions of honey bees, according to the California Almond Board. The world’s largest pollination event also is an opportunity for bee rustlers to remove valuable beehives from local farms.
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VICTORY: Gov. Newsom signs bill limiting bee-killing pesticides
On Monday October 9, California Governor, Gavin Newsom signed the Pollinator Protection Act (AB 363). Starting in January 2025, the law will limit the sale, purchase, and use of non-agricultural neonicotinoids (neonics) to certified applicators and licensed dealers.
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A California court decision-bees are fish-shines new light on the biodiversity crisis
In September, the California Supreme Court left in place a lower-court decision holding that bees are fish-at least for the purpose of protecting them under California’s endangered species law.
Read the source articleLocal News. Local Action.
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