Lack of maternal care found to affect development, microbiome and health of wild bees

York University researchers looked at four developmental stages in the life of these carpenter bees.

Without maternal care, the pathogen load of these developing bees ballooned.

This can impact their microbiome, a critical component of bee health, as well as their development, immune system and gene expression.

The biggest single fungus found was Aspergillus , known to induce stonebrood disease in honey bees.