April 4, 2016 by
When most people think about bee pollinators in U.S. agriculture, they probably think of honey bees. However, bumble bees can also be used, especially in green houses where crops like tomatoes or peppers are grown. In fact, several companies sell bumble bee hives through the mail.
In the late 1990s, populations of the western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) declined, as did populations of other species, and many researchers blamed a fungus called Nosema bombi. Now scientists seem to have confirmed that N. bombi was an important factor, and that its effects may have been amplified by commercial sellers of bumble bees.
The researchers conducted the first long-term genetic study of N. bombi, a fungal pathogen that is also harmful to honey bees. Their study, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that N. bombi was present in the U.S. as early as 1980, well before several species of wild bumble bees started to go missing across the country. The study also found that N. bombi infections in large-scale commercial bumble bee pollination operations coincided with infections and declines in wild bumble bees.....
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When most people think about bee pollinators in U.S. agriculture, they probably think of honey bees. However, bumble bees can also be used, especially in green houses where crops like tomatoes or peppers are grown. In fact, several companies sell bumble bee hives through the mail.
In the late 1990s, populations of the western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis) declined, as did populations of other species, and many researchers blamed a fungus called Nosema bombi. Now scientists seem to have confirmed that N. bombi was an important factor, and that its effects may have been amplified by commercial sellers of bumble bees.
The researchers conducted the first long-term genetic study of N. bombi, a fungal pathogen that is also harmful to honey bees. Their study, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that N. bombi was present in the U.S. as early as 1980, well before several species of wild bumble bees started to go missing across the country. The study also found that N. bombi infections in large-scale commercial bumble bee pollination operations coincided with infections and declines in wild bumble bees.....
To Read More
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