Emerging dangers: Deadly effects of an emergent parasite in a new pollinator host

We investigate the status of the emergent honeybee parasite, Nosema ceranae, in bumblebees. We molecularly identify the presence of N. ceranae in multiple species of wild bumblebee across sites in England. We inoculate Bombus terrestris bumblebees with N. ceranae spores to test its infectivity. We find, following the ingestion of N. ceranae spores, bumblebees suffer from altered behaviour and reduced survival. Comparatively, N. ceranae has higher virulence in bumblebees than in its natural honey bee host.