Tree Bumblebee An exceptional pollinator!   Bumblebees are close relatives of honeybees: they are hymenopteran insects belonging to the family Apidae, genus Bombus. Like bees, bumblebees are social insects living in colonies ruled by a queen . They are incredibly important and super-efficient pollinators!   Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is a bumblebee that nests in tree cavities – hence its name. It is easily recognized by its tawny thorax, black abdomen with a white tail, and its fast, noisy flight. It is one of the few bumblebee species that has adapted to urban areas .   The nest is relatively [...]

Alfalfa A Plant with Many Virtues! Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), also known as lucerne, is a perennial plant from the Fabaceae family, native to the Mediterranean regions. Thanks to its rare ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen through symbiosis with specific bacteria, alfalfa has been introduced across Europe to improve soil fertility. This plant is also an excellent forage for livestock. Its distinctive flowers range in color from pale pink to deep purple and attract a wide variety of pollinators , who find in them a precious source of nectar and pollen. The honey produced by bees visiting these flowers [...]