Wild pollinators at risk from bee diseases

21/01/2015

Commercial species of honey bees or bumblebees are commonly used to pollinate various crops. However, viruses transported by these populations have the potential to decimate wild pollinator species, including bees, butterflies and syphids, putting biodiversity and food security at risk.

This was revealed by a new study from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, which revealed that viruses transported by commercial bees can "jump" to populations of wild pollinators with potentially devastating effects.

Through a press release, the entity explained that the researchers are asking for new measures to prevent the introduction of sick pollinators in natural environments, given the important role played by wild pollinators in various crops, such as the case of the native plants.

"Our study highlights the importance of preventing the release of sick commercial pollinators into the wild"said Dr. Lena Wilfert, from the Center for Ecology and Conservation in Biosciences at the University of Exeter, in the note.

"Diseases transmitted by commercial species affect a wide range of wild pollinators, but their spread can be prevented by improving monitoring and management practices", He said.

The researcher pointed out that beekeepers of commercial bees have the responsibility to protect, ecologically and commercially, populations of wild pollinators of diseases.

As part of the research, the scientists reviewed existing studies to determine the potential occurrence of diseases in wild communities based on known bee viruses.

According to reports, one of the diseases that most affects commercial bee colonies is the Varroa mite. This parasite can help spread viral diseases and increase their virulence.

One of these viruses is deformed wings (DWV), which has been identified as an emerging disease in pollinators and its prevalence in commercial bees has been linked to its existence in wild bumble bees.

"The social behavior of honey bees, bumble bees and social wasps, offers perfect conditions for disease transmission, within the colony and between different species," highlights the note of the University of Exeter.

But not only commercial bees can transmit diseases. The note also mentions the handling of these.

"The risk of disease transmission can also increase due to poor management of commercial species, such as the transport of bees without adequate controls, intensive breeding, poor detection of pathogens and the release of commercial bees in the environment so that they interact freely with wild pollinators ", get the note.

Despite the advances, and as reported, future research will seek to determine which commercial species is transmitting diseases.

Researchers will also monitor the effectiveness of existing conservation plans to determine their success in protecting populations of wild pollinators.

Date

The study was published in the Journal of Applied Ecology and was funded by the Royal Society and the Natural Enviroment Research Council.

Source: Fruit Portal