[Pollinator] Wild Pollinators Share Pathogens

[Matthew Shepherd]

From: Hobby Farms

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-industry-news/2011/02/08/wild-pollinators-sha
re-pathogens.aspx 


Wild Pollinators Share Pathogens


Diseases that affect your Honey bees could also affect 11 other species of
wild pollinators, a study finds.


By Amy Grisak


February 8, 2011

 

	

As if the concern of colony collapse disorder, a mysterious condition that
devastates Honey bee colonies seemingly overnight, isn't worrisome enough to
those of us who love our bees in the garden, there is evidence wild
pollinators are susceptible to many of the same diseases as Honey bees when
they share flowers. 

In a December 2010 Penn State University study involving apiaries in
Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, researchers confirmed pathogens can be
transmitted from Honey bees to wild pollinators when both use the same
pollen source. The 11 wild pollinators studied, including the sweat bee and
a bumble bee species, contracted all five of the viruses used in the study. 

Researchers took samples of the studied species in proximity to hives that
were infected with the viruses as well as ones that were not infected. The
results demonstrated that the viruses can move from one species to another
via pollen. What the study does not conclude is the overall impact and
whether it's prevalent in an uncontrolled situation. 

"Unlike Honey bees, wild native bees are not well monitored," says Eric
Mader, assistant pollinator program director at the Xerces Society, an
organization dedicated to the conservation of invertebrates.  

Bee losses from pesticides or other reasons largely go unnoticed. 

Buzz on Bumble Bees
Bumble bees are a particular concern for home gardeners because they're well
adapted to regional conditions. A separate study published in November 2010
from the University of Illinois notes a sharp decline in several North
American bumble bee species. 

Sydney Cameron, associate professor of entomology at the University of
Illinois, headed the study that looked at eight species of North American
bumble bees. Of the eight, four are doing very well while the other
populations are struggling; however, the reasons for their decreased
populations are not black and white. 

During the study, researchers noticed the prevalence of the parasite Nosema
bombi was higher in declining populations. But the question is whether the
Nosema caused the decline or whether the loss of genetic diversity of a
particular group made them more susceptible to it. 

"It's too early to know if it's a general pattern that will affect other
species," Cameron says. 

Overall, the study shed light on alarming findings, but Cameron stresses
it's not a reason to panic. From the potential transmission of pathogens
between Honey bees and native species to the loss of habitat and use of
pesticides, there's no easy answer. 

Bumble bees are critical because they can forage at much cooler temperatures
than many other bees. Mader points out that they're active in early spring
when the blueberries and fruit trees are in bloom. 

"They might be the only efficient pollinators getting the job done," he
says. 

Bumble bees perform a uniquely important function called "buzz pollination."
A bumble bee grabs the flower and vibrates its entire body at the same
frequency as the note of middle C on a tuning fork. This greatly improves
production for tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. 

"It's essential for releasing that pollen," Mader says. "That's a
characteristic Honey bees don't have." 

Take Action
Although the findings from the Penn State study don't present immediate
real-world applications, it's important to be kind to your native
pollinators. 

"There are 4,500 [species of] wild bees [in the U.S.]," Cameron notes.
"Honey bees are just one, and they're not even native." 

While home gardeners can't shield pollinators from infection or commercial
chemical applications, they can do their part by creating a
pollinator-friendly habitat. 

Avoid pesticides by looking for alternatives to insect problems. Mader
recommends utilizing crop rotation, resistant crops and floating row covers
to act as a barrier between your plants and the bugs that love them. 

He also says, "Think about how you can create undisturbed natural areas."
Most bees nest in the ground (even in rodent burrows), while a handful
prefer hollow stems of plants. Mader says a certain level of "benign
neglect" is beneficial to the pollinators.

Cameron suggests planting a mix of native flowers to provide a nectar source
for emerging queens in the early spring and a steady food source for workers
throughout the season.  

"One of the hardest times [for wild pollinators] is around August because
the flowers are fading," Cameron says. She recommends planting varieties
that bloom until frost and maybe beyond. She also strongly encourages home
gardeners to talk to their local nurseries about carrying regionally
specific wildflowers. 

Although reports of disease transmission from Honey bees to wild pollinators
and declining populations of some species are alarming, it's important to
remember to focus on what you can do in your own backyard to lessen the
pollinators' plight. 

 

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