In Scotland, a bee hive was observed in winter https://ift.tt/FWUR6jH Getty Images Bees usually hibernate during the winter Due to climate change, bees have started nesting in the depths of winter, say conservationists. Active worker bees, who do most of their work in the hive, were spotted in Aberdeen during the mild weather over Christmas, according to the charity Buglife. It said a previous survey saw bumblebees and honey bees reported across the UK between Christmas and New Year, including the Highlands. Buglife said there was a “high risk” of hives failing due to a lack of flowers for the bees to gather nectar and pollen from and the risk of returning to cold weather. Scientists have already said that climate change is the cause widespread loss of bees around the world. Important pollinators typically hibernate from winter to spring. Christmas season was prematurely softbut since then there have been cold and snowy days. Buglife said at least two of the UK’s 25 bee species were believed to have started nesting early. Paul Hetherington, a spokesman for the charity, said: “In 2019, Buglife carried out a bee survey from Christmas to New Year and was amazed by the results of honey bees and bumble bees found from Jersey to Thurso. “This year one of my colleagues in Aberdeen noticed active worker bees at Christmas. “The presence of active workers means that the queens are not only waking up from hibernation, but they are going as far as opening new nests.” Mr Hetherington said a lack of flowers and winter weather could leave nests at risk of collapsing and killing bees. He added: “If this happens, new queens don’t emerge, so there will be fewer bees in the spring and a decline in bees.” Getty Images Some ticks can transmit Lyme disease to humans Milder conditions have also led to people encountering less benign invertebrates – ticks. Parasitic spider-like creatures are usually active from early spring to late fall. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that causes a number of health problems, can be transmitted to humans through a tick bite. Inverness was among the areas where the pests were most active, with one spotted on December 28 in the woods in the Ness Castle area of the city. A tick found in Inverness Forest on 28th December In winter, adult mites do not hibernate and instead seek shelter from low temperatures in tall plants. Mr Hetherington said: “This means they are still active and the period around December 28 was relatively warm for the time of year, a possible consequence of climate change is an increased period of activity for ticks, as bees have been seen on the wing across Scotland this December.” The charity Lyme Disease Action said it was concerned about the situation. The press secretary said: “The extension of the active period of ticks means the extension of the period during which tick-borne diseases can be transmitted.” #Scotland #bee #hive #observed #winter https://ift.tt/7m48r6f
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