EATING 1 MICROBE PROTECTS HONEY BEES AGAINST POOR NUTRITION.*

EATING 1 MICROBE PROTECTS HONEY BEES AGAINST POOR NUTRITION

BY ANDREA ZEEK-INDIANA

Researchers have identified a specific bacterial microbe that, when fed to honey bee larvae, can reduce the effects of nutritional stress on developing bees—one of the leading causes of honey bee decline.

Humans rely on honey bees for food security. Because they will pollinate almost anything, honey bees are extremely useful for agriculture. But over the past few decades, the honey bee population has experienced dramatic declines caused by the effects of multiple stressors, the most pervasive of which is limited nutrition.

“IF YOU LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONLY EATING ONE THING, THAT’S NOT HEALTHY FOR YOU. BEES ARE THE SAME WAY.”

Beekeepers in the United States reported losing 40.5% of their managed colonies between 2015 and 2016 alone, according to a national survey.

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* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.