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Do Viruses From Managed Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Endanger Wild Bees in Native Prairies?
Environmental Entomology
  • Zoe A. Pritchard, Montana State University
  • Harmen P. Hendriksma, Iowa State University
  • Ashley L. St. Clair, Iowa State University
  • David S. Stein, Iowa State University
  • Adam G. Dolezal, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Matthew E. O'Neal, Iowa State University
  • Amy L. Toth, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-25-2021
DOI
10.1093/ee/nvaa181
Abstract

Populations of wild and managed pollinators are declining in North America, and causes include increases in disease pressure and decreases in flowering resources. Tallgrass prairies can provide floral resources for managed honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and wild bees. Honey bees kept near prairies may compete with wild bees for floral resources, and potentially transfer viral pathogens to wild bees. Measurements of these potential interactions are lacking, especially in the context of native habitat conservation. To address this, we assessed abundance and richness of wild bees in prairies with and without honey bee hives present, and the potential spillover of several honey bee viruses to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latrielle). We found no indication that the presence of honey bee hives over two years had a negative effect on population size of wild bee taxa, though a potential longer-term effect remains unknown. All levels of viruses quantified in bumble bees were lower than those observed in honey bees. Higher levels of deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus were found in Bombus griseocollis DeGeer (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected at sites with hives than those without hives. These data suggest that the presence of honey bees in tallgrass prairie could increase wild bee exposure to viruses. Additional studies on cross-species transmission of viruses are needed to inform decisions regarding the cohabitation of managed bees within habitat utilized by wild bees.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Pritchard, Zoe A., Harmen P. Hendriksma, Ashley L. St Clair, David S. Stein, Adam G. Dolezal, Matthew E. O’Neal, and Amy L. Toth. "Do Viruses From Managed Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Endanger Wild Bees in Native Prairies?." Environmental Entomology (2021). doi: 10.1093/ee/nvaa181. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
The Author(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Zoe A. Pritchard, Harmen P. Hendriksma, Ashley L. St. Clair, David S. Stein, et al.. "Do Viruses From Managed Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Endanger Wild Bees in Native Prairies?" Environmental Entomology (2021)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/amy-toth/36/