“So, I like to say that bees are just like us. So bees have a society, and they live in a built environment, [they have a] little house, just like we have a little house, and they communicate through dance. I don’t know if we communicate through dance, but I think dance is also a thing that humans do…”
On this week's show we’re talking with microbiologist Irene Garcia Newton about the beloved honeybee. We learn about the various roles within a hive, and how important diversity is in the diet of a bee.
If you know a lot about bees, you will probably find this conversation interesting because of the detailed information and discovery from a biologist who studies symbiosis, microbiota and bee nutrition.
If you don’t know much about bees, now is your chance to learn more about these complex creatures who play a crucial role in our food system.
Listen this week for a conversation with Dr. Irene Garcia Newton, she’s a professor of biology at Indiana University and her current research is focused on the honeybee. Visit the Newton Lab website to learn more about her work.
Mentioned on this episode
I Contain Multitudes, by Ed Wong
Audrey Parish, PhD candidate, IU Biology
Heather R Mattila, professor of biological sciences at Wellesley College.
David Tarpy NC State University Apiculture Program
Robinson Lab, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A 2015 article on the study of honeybees at Indiana University (not mentioned in the interview, but there is a short video featuring Irene Newton)
Music on this episode
The Earth Eats theme music is composed by Erin Tobey and performed by Erin and Matt Tobey.
Additional music on this episode from Universal Production Music.
Credits:
The Earth Eats’ team includes: Eoban Binder, Alexis Carvajal, Alex Chambers, Toby Foster, Leo Paes, Daniella Richardson, Samantha Shemenaur, Payton Whaley and we partner with Harvest Public Media.
Earth Eats is produced, engineered and edited by Kayte Young. Our executive producer is Eric Bolstridge.
