Gut Health Impact on Honey Bees

USDA Researchers conducted a study to determine whether or not gut bacteria was good for the health of honey bees.

Dr. Jay Evans concluded that bees became more susceptible to bacteria after exposure.

“Bacteria are involved in really strong ways with the health of honey bees so they have to be monitored in the same way we would monitor viruses and other parasites. It’s just another impact on bee health that down the line I think we can manage to keep the bees less susceptible to disease.”

The study was conducted on young honey bees that didn’t have bacteria so the effect of picking up bacteria over time could give a clearer picture.

Evans said that bees begin collecting bacteria almost immediately.

“They can receive bacteria from their nestmates, from the older bees who come and feed them. Or they forage and crawl along the nest themselves and they pick up some bacteria, we think, that way, so there’s two routes to get this community incorporated in their stomachs.”

Evans said that each bee is unique, but there are some consistencies across larger groups of bees in how they get bacteria and what kinds they get.