Bumble bees lacking high-quality habitat have higher pathogen loads -- Science & Technology -- Sott.net
© David Cappaert, Bugwood.Org Researchers found that bumble bees in landscapes that lacked quality nesting sites and spring flowers for forage had higher levels of pathogens. Their results can inform management practices to support the conservation of bee species that provide essential pollination services, they said.Bumble bees found in low-quality landscapes — characterized by a relative lack of spring flowers and quality nesting habitat — had higher levels of disease pathogens, as did bumble bees in areas with higher numbers of managed honey bee hives, according to research led by Pe...
Source: sott.net