Natural History Wanderings

Native Pollinators threatened by Viruses

Eleven species of native bees in the U.S. have been found to have some of the viruses that have plagued  honeybees.  This raises the issue of are honeybees spreading the viruses to native bees.  It also puts in doubt the possibility that native bees may be able to substitute as pollinators for honeybees who are suffering from colony collapse. ( See earlier posting on Threats to Honey Bees and Food Crops Are Native Bees and Plants the Solution?) To read more about the spread of viruses to bees go to Wired Science Honeybees May Be Spreading Disease to Wild Bees | Wired Science | Wired.com. and National Geographic Bumblebees Taking a Nosedive in North America

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