Lack of maternal care affects development, microbiome and health of wild bees

York University researchers looked at four developmental stages in the life of these carpenter bees starting with the larvae stage both in the presence and absence of maternal care.

Without maternal care the pathogen load of these developing bees ballooned -- 85 per cent of were fungi, while eight per cent were bacteria.

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