Watch Dr Corneile Minnaar from the Department of Biological Sciences explain his current research project investigating how heather nectar might protect bumblebees from parasites.

Recent work in our labs found that unique chemicals in heather nectar might protect bumblebees from parasites.

An experiment led by Professor Mark Brown and Dr Corneile Minnaar from the Department of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with Professor Phil Stevenson and Dr Xuan Feng from Kew Gardens seeks to test the impact of these natural anti-parasite chemicals in the real world. 

With bumblebees being such important wild pollinators in the UK, it is important to understand how their environment impacts their health to help them overcome the challenges they face. Our biodiverse campus is the perfect place to do this. 

The boxes set up as hives around campus, like the one Corneile is standing next to, all have shapes on the outside. This is because bumblebees use visual features to help them identify their hives. Bumblebees take initial orientation flights to memorise features around their hive’s entrance and then use this information to help them find their hive on future trips