Why are wild bees struggling ?
Carpenter bees (Ceratina calcarata) exhibit remarkable maternal care, positively impacting the microbiome, development, and health of their offspring, according to York University researchers. Without this care, the pathogen load in developing bees surges, primarily consisting of fungi and bacteria.
This heightened pathogen load can disrupt bee microbiomes, immune systems, and gene expression, affecting brain, eye development, and behavior.
Aspergillus, a fungus identified in these bees, is known for causing stonebrood disease in honey bees. Researchers examined four developmental stages in carpenter bees, revealing how gene expression changes, disease loads, and microbiomes vary with or without maternal care.
These solitary mothers craft a single nest yearly in dead plant stems, nurturing their offspring from spring to fall. Anything disrupting maternal care, such as excessive pruning of stems, increases nest predation and parasitism risks for the young bees.
Published in Communications Biology, this study sheds light on the importance of maternal care in early childhood development among wild bees and offers insights into the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and bee health. It emphasises the need for a deeper understanding of bee diversity, highlighting differences and similarities between wild and managed bee populations.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-05275-2
Open Access
Published: 14 September 2023
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