Why These Bees May Be Killing the Plants They Feed From
Recent research indicates that Western honeybees may be contributing to the spread of myrtle rust, a fungal blight threatening Australia's flora. The bees are foraging from infected flowers and transporting spores back to their hives, potentially acting as disease vectors. This interaction raises concerns about a feedback loop that could harm both the bees and the plants they pollinate.
- ▪Myrtle rust, a fungal blight, has threatened up to 17 percent of Australia's natural flora since its introduction in 2010.
- ▪Research shows that honeybees are foraging from rust-infected flowers and carrying spores back to their colonies.
- ▪About half of the bees returning from myrtle-rust outbreak sites had spores clinging to their bodies, and 45 percent of pollen storage cells were contaminated.
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