Deformed wing virus can be transmitted during natural mating in honey bees and infect the queens

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Charlie
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Deformed wing virus can be transmitted during natural mating in honey bees and infect the queens

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From http://www.nature.com/articles/srep33065
Abstract

Deformed wing virus is an important contributor to honey bee colony losses. Frequently queen failure is reported as a cause for colony loss. Here we examine whether sexual transmission during multiple matings of queens is a possible way of virus infection in queens. In an environment with high prevalence of deformed wing virus, queens (n = 30) were trapped upon their return from natural mating flights.

The article goes on describing testing methods etc. However if you think about it in only seems likely that a virus could be transmitted during mating.

While I am unsure how this confirmation helps the bee community at large, it should be a huge warning to all the organic beekeepers of there that they need to treat for mites. Considering the time in the year it is a timely article.
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