"Are Commercial Honeybees Making Wild Bees Sick?"

Question

by Berly McCoy

Everyone wants to save the bees. But as populations decline every year, we may be saving them to death.

Human efforts to breed more of these insects in artificial beehives and plant more flowers may seem the obvious way to stave off heavy losses.

New research shows the answer is not that clear cut, because viruses may be spilling over from commercial honeybee colonies into wild bee populations, according to a study from the University of Vermont published Wednesday in PLOS One.

Like honeybees, which are invaluable for agriculture, wild bumblebees also play a significant role in crop pollination. Though people are more familiar with honeybee die-offs — such as with colony collapse disorder — wild bumblebees have been struggling too. A handful of bumblebee species have declined by up to 96 percent in the U.S., according to the National Agricultural Library’s website.

The causes have been largely understudied, although pesticides, infectious disease and shrinking habitat due to climate change have been suspected, said Samantha Alger, an ecologist from the University of Vermont who led the new research

Filling in one piece of the puzzle, the study revealed wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to managed honeybee colonies. But if bumblebees don’t venture into the commercial hives, how are they picking up viruses?

Flowers have been suspected as reservoirs for bee viruses, but no researcher had linked virus deposits on flowers to bumblebee infections in the wild until this study. And the results could have implications for how we lend our inter-species help.

What evidence from the text best supports the analysis that human-raised honeybees may be responsible for harming wild bumblebee populations?

(1 point)
Responses

“Filling in one piece of the puzzle, the study revealed wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to managed honeybee colonies.”
“Filling in one piece of the puzzle, the study revealed wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to managed honeybee colonies.”

“Human efforts to breed more of these insects in artificial beehives and plant more flowers may seem the obvious way to stave off heavy losses.”
“Human efforts to breed more of these insects in artificial beehives and plant more flowers may seem the obvious way to stave off heavy losses.”

“Flowers have been suspected as reservoirs for bee viruses, but no researcher had linked virus deposits on flowers to bumblebee infections in the wild until this study.”
“Flowers have been suspected as reservoirs for bee viruses, but no researcher had linked virus deposits on flowers to bumblebee infections in the wild until this study.”

“A handful of bumblebee species have declined by up to 96 percent in the U.S., according to the National Agricultural Library’s website.”

Answer 1

The best evidence from the text that supports the analysis that human-raised honeybees may be responsible for harming wild bumblebee populations is:

“Filling in one piece of the puzzle, the study revealed wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to managed honeybee colonies.”

This statement indicates a direct correlation between the proximity of wild bumblebees to commercial honeybee colonies and an increase in virus infections among the wild populations, suggesting that the practices associated with human-raised honeybee colonies may negatively affect wild bumblebee health.

Answer 2

What evidence from the text supports the inference that commercial honeybees may be responsible for leaving virus deposits on flowers? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

Bumblebees have not been observed entering commercial honeybee hives.
Bumblebees have not been observed entering commercial honeybee hives.

People have been planting more flowers in an attempt to save the honeybees.
People have been planting more flowers in an attempt to save the honeybees.

Wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to honeybee colonies.
Wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to honeybee colonies.

Honeybees play a significant role in pollinating flowers and commercial plants.
Honeybees play a significant role in pollinating flowers and commercial plants.

Pesticides and shrinking habitat due to climate change may both contribute to wild bee decline.

Answer 3

The two correct answers that support the inference that commercial honeybees may be responsible for leaving virus deposits on flowers are:

1. Wild bumblebees pick up more viruses the closer they forage to honeybee colonies.

2. Honeybees play a significant role in pollinating flowers and commercial plants.

The first statement indicates a correlation between the proximity to honeybee colonies and increased virus presence in wild bumblebees, hinting at a potential source of the viruses. The second statement underscores the role honeybees play in pollination, including on flowers, suggesting they may also be contaminating these flowers with viruses.