February 1, 2017 by Marlowe Hood
Bees around the world—especially in Europe and North America—have been decimated in recent years by a mysterious blight called "colony collapse disorder", in which entire populations disappear or die out
A wing-deforming virus shortens the lifespan of wild honeybees already contending with a startlingly long list of existential threats, researchers said Wednesday.
Spread by microscopic mites, the microbe disrupts bees' foraging and curtails their lives, experiments confirmed for the first time.
"Deformed wing virus strongly reduced the chances for workers to survive to foraging age," scientists reported in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
It also "reduced the life expectancy and total activity span" of infected bees, they found.
Bees around the world—especially in Europe and North America—have been decimated in recent years by a mysterious blight called "colony collapse disorder", in which entire populations disappear or die out.
Research has pointed an accusing finger at agricultural pesticides, viruses, fungi, parasites, malnutrition because of fewer flowers—or some combination of the above.
More than just the survival of the bees is at stake.
Scientists recently calculated that 1.4 billion jobs, and three-quarters of crops, depend on pollinators, mainly bees.
All told, there are some 20,000 bee species that fertilise more than 90 percent of the world's 107 major crops.
At the same time, the United Nations estimates that 40 percent of invertebrate pollinators—mostly bees and butterflies—are at risk of extinction.
Mini tracking devices
Deformed wing virus has previously been recognised as a threat to bees' well-being, compromising their ability to remember where they have been.
The pathogen is found in most parts of the world; in certain areas up to three-quarters of hives are affected.
It was previously also suspected of affecting flight patterns and lifespan, but evidence was lacking. The new study removes any doubt on this score.
Read more at:
A wing-deforming virus shortens the lifespan of wild honeybees already contending with a startlingly long list of existential threats, researchers said Wednesday.
Spread by microscopic mites, the microbe disrupts bees' foraging and curtails their lives, experiments confirmed for the first time.
"Deformed wing virus strongly reduced the chances for workers to survive to foraging age," scientists reported in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
It also "reduced the life expectancy and total activity span" of infected bees, they found.
Bees around the world—especially in Europe and North America—have been decimated in recent years by a mysterious blight called "colony collapse disorder", in which entire populations disappear or die out.
Research has pointed an accusing finger at agricultural pesticides, viruses, fungi, parasites, malnutrition because of fewer flowers—or some combination of the above.
More than just the survival of the bees is at stake.
Scientists recently calculated that 1.4 billion jobs, and three-quarters of crops, depend on pollinators, mainly bees.
All told, there are some 20,000 bee species that fertilise more than 90 percent of the world's 107 major crops.
At the same time, the United Nations estimates that 40 percent of invertebrate pollinators—mostly bees and butterflies—are at risk of extinction.
Mini tracking devices
Deformed wing virus has previously been recognised as a threat to bees' well-being, compromising their ability to remember where they have been.
The pathogen is found in most parts of the world; in certain areas up to three-quarters of hives are affected.
It was previously also suspected of affecting flight patterns and lifespan, but evidence was lacking. The new study removes any doubt on this score.
Read more at:
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