New research into the honey bee has shown that this species pass on viral infections vertically from mother queens to their offspring. This ...
Case Studies
The first evidence that viruses can be transmitted vertically from mother queens to their offspring in honey bee colonies has been discovered by American scientists from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
ARS entomologists Yanping Chen, Jeff Pettis, Jay Evans, Anita Collins and Mark Feldlaufer, made the discovery by testing individual queen bees and their offspring for a number of viruses including deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus and black queen cell virus.
The researchers examined faeces produced by queen bees bred in a closed environment to determine the extent of contamination. Various tissues including heads, guts and ovaries were also tested, all of which were found to carry viral infections.
In a separate study, the virus status of queens and their offspring was examined simultaneously. Once viruses in the queen bees were identified, the same viruses were found in their offspring, including eggs, larvae and adult workers.
According to Chen and her colleagues, this information is invaluable for improving understanding of the epidemiology of virus infections in honey bees. It could be used to predict bee colonies at risk of virus infection, which, in turn, would contribute to the development of effective disease-control and pest control strategies.
Honey bees pollinate an estimated $15 billion (£7.6 billion) worth of crops each year across the United States, but can also become uninvited guests in our homes and gardens.
Valuable research into the tolerance of infections and viruses by the honey bee is vital in the development of effective pest control strategies for this species and others such as wasps. In addition, this research is also used to help protect species, which may be in danger in other areas of the world.
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