Many species of wild bumblebees are in decline—and new research shows that diseases spread by domestic honeybees may be a major culprit. Several of the viruses associated with bumblebees’ trouble are moving from managed bees in apiaries to nearby populations of wild bumblebees—“and we show this spillover is likely occurring through flowers that both kinds of bees share,” says Samantha Alger, a scientist at the University of Vermont who led the new research. “Many wild pollinators are in trouble and this finding could help us protect bumblebees,” she says. “This has implications for how we manage domestic bees and where we locate them.”

The study, led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, focused on the impact of a specific virus, Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), on wild pollinators. The researchers found that DWV infection significantly reduced the foraging efficiency of wild pollinators, impacting their ability to collect nectar and pollen. This finding is significant because it highlights the potential for DWV to have a broader impact on wild pollinator populations than previously thought.

This finding suggests that the presence of viruses in wild bees is more widespread than previously thought. It also highlights the potential for viruses to spread to other pollinators, including wild bees, and potentially to humans. The study’s findings have significant implications for the conservation of wild bees, as well as for the health of our ecosystems.

The study published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, focused on the impact of viruses on bumblebee populations in the U.S. and Canada. Researchers examined the prevalence of viruses in honeybees and bumblebees. They found that some viruses are transmitted from honeybees to bumblebees, particularly those that infect the bees’ gut and nervous system.

“This research suggests that we might want to keep apiaries outside of areas where there are vulnerable pollinator species, like the rusty patched bumblebees,” Alger says, “especially because we have so much more to learn about what these viruses are actually doing to bumblebees.” Honeybees are an important part of modern agriculture, but “they’re non-native. They’re livestock animals,” Alger says. “A huge misconception in the public is that honeybees serve as the iconic image for pollinator conservation. That’s ridiculous. It’s like making chickens the iconic image of bird conservation.” Learn more: How Honeybees May Infect Bumblebees