U.S.: Biodiversity lowers pathogen levels in bees

Published 2021년 4월 8일

Tridge summary

A study by the University of Michigan has found that diverse bee communities have lower levels of three common viral pathogens. The research, which collected over 4,000 bees from 60 species at winter squash farms across Michigan, found that the presence of a variety of bee species can help reduce the impact of pathogens, a phenomenon known as the dilution effect. The study's authors, including lead author Michelle Fearon, recommend planting diverse native wildflowers and reducing pesticide use to benefit bee health and diversity. The research has inspired squash farmers to learn more about the bee species on their lands and how to increase pollinator diversity.

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Original content

A study by researchers at the University of Michigan has shown that the most diverse bee communities have the lowest levels of three common viral pathogens. The researchers netted and trapped more than 4,000 bees representing 60 species and they were collected at winter squash farms across Michigan. All but one species in the research, the European honeybee, were native bees. The most abundant bees were the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), the eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), the squash bee (Eucera pruinose) and several species of sweat bee of the genus Lasioglossum. When they were tested for deformed wing virus, black queen cell virus, and sacbrood virus, the researchers found that lower viral presence was linked to greater biodiversity in the local bee community. “This result is exciting because it suggests that promoting diverse bee communities may be a win-win strategy to simultaneously reduce viral infections in managed honeybee colonies while helping to maintain ...

Source: The Western Producer