Emma Wilson
Bees are in danger, and the world is in trouble. One-third of all crops worldwide rely on pollinators, and bees are facing a loss of nutrition sources due to the rise of monoculture and a loss of biodiversity. However, there may be a solution to this pressing issue: mushrooms. Research has shown that extracts from certain types of mushrooms, such as reishi and amadou, can significantly reduce deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) in honey bee colonies, leading to an extended lifespan for the bees. These extracts provide essential nutrition and boost the bees' immune systems, helping them fight off viruses and diseases. The discovery has significant implications for honeybee populations, food systems, economies, and ecosystems, and it gives hope that bees can be saved.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How Mushrooms Help Bees | Mushrooms might save bees by reducing viruses and increasing their lifespans |
| Types of Mushrooms | Fomes, Ganoderma, Polypore, Reishi, Amadou |
| Types of Viruses | Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Lake Sinai Virus (LSV), Varroa Mites |
| Mushroom Extracts | Mycelium extracts, Mycelial broth |
| Benefits of Mushroom Extracts | Reduced virus levels, Increased nutrition, Improved immune system, Improved hive health |
| BeeMushroomed Feeder | A product in development that will allow people to feed local bees with mushroom mycelium extract |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms reduce deformed wing virus (DWV) in bees
Bees are dying in massive numbers, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder. One of the major causes of this die-off is a parasite known as the Varroa destructor, or varroa mite. This mite invades honeybee hives, latches onto bees, feeds on their tissues, and transmits devastating RNA viruses, such as the deformed wing virus (DWV). DWV causes bees' wings to become shrunken and misshapen, robbing them of flight and undermining their immune system. As a result, infected bees pollinate fewer plants, and the flora they do manage to visit become tainted by the virus, transmitting the infection to future pollinators.
Currently, beekeepers are only able to indirectly control virus levels by using miticides to reduce mite infestation rates in honey bees. However, this method has only been met with limited success, as varroa mites have rapidly developed resistance to synthetic miticides.
However, research suggests that extracts of certain types of mushrooms, such as Fomes (amadou) and Ganoderma (reishi), may help bees fight DWV and other viruses that contribute to colony collapse disorder. These mushrooms are believed to boost bees' immune systems and attack the mites themselves. In a study conducted by researchers at Washington State University and the US Department of Agriculture, bees that were fed mycelium extracts from these mushrooms fared significantly better than those that drank only sugar water. In caged bees infected with DWV, an 800-fold decrease in virus titres was observed among bees dosed with amadou extract, while colonies fed reishi extract saw a 79-fold reduction in DWV.
While the mechanism by which these extracts reduce virus titres in infected bees is not yet fully understood, the potential implications of this discovery are far-reaching. Not only could it help save honeybee populations, but it could also positively impact the food systems, economies, and ecosystems that rely on their healthy activity.
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Mycelium extracts improve bees' nutrition and health
Bees are facing a nutrition crisis due to the rise of monoculture landscapes and biodiversity loss. Mycelium extracts may provide a valuable means of nutritional support for bees as they navigate increasingly challenging conditions.
Mycelium extracts have been shown to reduce viruses in honey bees. In a study published in Nature Scientific Reports in 2018, researchers presented evidence that extracts from Fomes and Ganoderma mushrooms, also known as amadou and reishi, reduced deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) levels in honey bee colonies.
In caged experiments, bees infected with DWV that were fed mycelium extracts showed an 800-fold decrease in virus levels compared to those fed only sugar water. In field tests, colonies fed reishi extract exhibited a 79-fold reduction in DWV and a 45,000-fold reduction in LSV.
The antiviral properties of mycelium extracts can also help fight other viruses and diseases, including those that affect humans, such as tuberculosis, smallpox, and bird flu.
The use of mycelium extracts to improve bee health has significant implications for food systems, economies, and ecosystems that rely on healthy bee populations for pollination. Bees play a crucial role in agriculture, with the United Nations' FAO estimating that 75% of the world's food crops depend on pollination to some extent, contributing approximately $577 billion annually to global food production.
By improving bee nutrition and health through mycelium extracts, we can help ensure the survival of bee colonies and maintain the vital pollination services they provide, thus safeguarding our food security and ecosystems.
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Mushrooms can help bees fight parasites
Bees are facing a nutrition crisis due to the rise of monocultured landscapes and biodiversity loss. Mycelium extracts from mushrooms could provide a valuable means of nutritional support for bees as they face these tougher conditions.
Mushrooms may be the solution to saving bees. Research has shown that extracts from certain types of mushrooms can reduce viruses in bees. Bees have been observed feeding on mycelium, the fuzzy white network of filaments through which fungi absorb nutrients. It was initially believed that the bees were consuming the droplets for their sugar content. However, it was later discovered that the mushroom extracts have antiviral properties that can help bees fight off viruses.
The deformed wing virus (DWV) is one of the largest contributors to the devastation of honeybee populations worldwide. It is transmitted by the varroa mite, a parasite that invades honeybee hives and feeds on bee tissues. DWV robs bees of their flight and weakens their immune systems. In a caged experiment, bees that were fed mycelium extracts exhibited an 800-fold decrease in DWV compared to bees that only consumed sugar water.
Extracts from Fomes (amadou) and Ganoderma (reishi) mushrooms have been found to significantly reduce DWV and Lake Sinai Virus (LSV) in honey bee colonies, leading to an extended lifespan for the bees. These mushrooms are known to have antiviral properties and have been shown to be effective against other viruses such as pox virus, HIV-1, and H1N1 influenza.
The use of mushroom extracts to enhance bee health has the potential to create powerful points of health and nutrition for bees across our shared landscapes. Further research and collaboration with commercial beekeepers are being pursued to expand upon these initial findings.
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Mushrooms increase bees' lifespans
Bees are essential for pollinating crops, and losing them could be disastrous. The decline in bee populations is due to various factors, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and diseases. Diseases are often spread by parasites like the varroa mite. This mite, aptly named Varroa destructor, invades honeybee hives, feeds on their tissues, and transmits devastating viruses, with deformed wing virus (DWV) being one of the most detrimental.
The search for a solution to save bees from colony collapse has led to an unexpected discovery: mushrooms. Research suggests that extracts from certain mushroom species, particularly their mycelium, can significantly reduce viral loads in bees, enhancing their health and lifespan.
Mushrooms, specifically their mycelium extracts, have demonstrated potent antiviral properties against DWV and other viruses affecting bee health. In both controlled experiments and field tests, bees that consumed mycelium extracts experienced a substantial decrease in DWV levels compared to those that did not. For example, in caged bee experiments, a remarkable 800-fold reduction in DWV was observed in bees dosed with amadou extract.
The genera Fomes (commonly known as amadou) and Ganoderma (reishi) have been identified as particularly effective in reducing DWV and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) levels in honey bee colonies. These mushrooms are believed to boost the bees' immune systems and directly target the varroa mite, improving the overall health and longevity of bee colonies.
The discovery of the antiviral properties of mushrooms has significant implications for bee health and the ecosystems and economies that depend on their pollination services. By incorporating mushroom mycelium extracts into bee diets, researchers aim to improve bee health, increase their lifespans, and ultimately safeguard the vital role they play in our ecosystems.
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Mushrooms may save bees and the ecosystem
Bees are essential for the planet, as they pollinate crops, and about one-third of all our crops rely on pollinators. Unfortunately, bees are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and diseases. One of the biggest reasons for the decline in bee populations is the varroa mite, a parasite that invades honeybee hives, feeds on their tissues, and transmits devastating viruses. If beekeepers don't intervene, the varroa mite can destroy a colony in less than two years.
However, mushrooms may offer a solution to saving bees and, in turn, the ecosystem. Research has shown that extracts from certain types of mushrooms can reduce viruses in bees. In particular, extracts from the mycelium of polypore mushrooms, including amadou (Fomes) and reishi (Ganoderma), have been found to significantly reduce deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) in honey bee colonies.
The discovery of the antiviral properties of mushroom extracts has significant implications for honeybee populations and the ecosystems that rely on their pollination. In addition to reducing viruses, mushroom extracts may also provide essential nutrition that boosts the immune system of bees, leading to improved hive health and extended bee lifespans.
The potential of mushrooms to save bees was first noticed by mycologist Paul Stamets, who observed bees in his backyard feeding on droplets of liquid that had oozed from the mycelium of mushrooms. This led him to collaborate with researchers from Washington State University to conduct a study on the effects of mushroom extracts on bee health. The study found that bees that fed on mycelium extracts had significantly reduced virus levels compared to those that only consumed sugar water.
The use of mushrooms to save bees is still in the research and development phase, with companies like Fungi Perfecti working on creating innovative products like the BeeMushroomed Feeder to help feed local bees with mushroom mycelium extract.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms can help bees fight viruses and diseases, including tuberculosis, smallpox, bird flu, and the deformed wing virus. They can also increase bees' lifespans and improve hive health.
Bees have been observed feeding on water droplets on mushrooms and the sugar-rich fungal roots growing on wood chips. Mushroom extracts can also be mixed into sucrose solution and fed to bees using in-hive feeders.
Mushrooms contain substances with antiviral properties that can reduce virus levels in bees. They can also boost bees' immune systems and attack the virus-carrying mites.
