Michael Davis
Bees are facing a crisis, with the global bee population in decline and the world's food security under threat. In response, researchers are investigating whether mushrooms could be the solution to saving the bees. Initial findings suggest that extracts from certain mushrooms can reduce viruses in bees and increase their lifespans. The focus is on wood-rotting mushrooms, which are known to have antiviral properties. These extracts are being fed to bees in a variety of ways, including through feeding tubes and in-hive feeders. The BeeMushroomed Feeder™, for example, is a patent-pending delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract, providing bees with essential nutrition. As research progresses, the hope is that these extracts will have a significant impact on viruses, helping to improve the health of bee colonies and ensuring the safety of the world's food supply.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom Type | Polypore |
| Mushroom Species | Reishi, Amadou, Fomes fomentarius, Ganoderma resinaceum, Rozites caperata |
| Extract Type | Mycelium |
| Extract Benefits | Reduced DWV and LSV levels, reduced deformed wing virus, reduced Lake Sinai virus, increased lifespan, improved hive health, boosted immunity |
| Mushroom Characteristics | Wood-rotting, rare |
| Companies Involved | BeeFriendly™, Fungi Perfecti, BeeMushroomed Feeder™, Host Defense, Washington State University, Nature, USDA, Olympia |
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What You'll Learn
How mushroom mycelium extracts can improve bee health
Bees play a critical role in the world's food security by pollinating crops. However, bee populations are declining globally, partly due to virus-carrying mites. To address this issue, researchers are exploring the potential of mushroom mycelium extracts to improve bee health.
Mushroom mycelium extracts have been shown to provide essential nutrition that boosts the immune system of bees. In particular, extracts from polypore mushrooms, such as Reishi and Amadou, have antiviral properties that can reduce the levels of viruses in bees, including the deformed wing virus and the Lake Sinai virus. Field trials have demonstrated significant reductions in virus levels when bees are fed mycelium extracts, with one study reporting a 79-fold reduction in deformed wing virus levels and a 45,000-fold reduction in Lake Sinai virus levels compared to control colonies.
The antiviral activity of mushroom mycelium extracts can also help in the fight against mites. Mites, such as Varroa mites, can cause stress on the bees' immune systems, making them more susceptible to viruses that shorten their lifespans. By reducing virus levels, the extracts may help to mitigate the impact of mites on bee health. Additionally, some types of entomopathogenic fungi have been found to directly weaken or kill mites in beehives, providing an alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides.
The use of mushroom mycelium extracts to improve bee health is still in the research and development phase. Organizations such as Fungi Perfecti, a family-owned company specializing in using mushrooms to improve environmental and human health, are actively contributing to bee research. They have developed the BeeMushroomed Feeder™, a delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract, which aims to make this nutritive food easily accessible to bees. While the feeder is not yet available for sale, the company is working to address the regulatory context for its innovative mycotechnology.
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The BeeMushroomed Feeder™ for feeding bees mushroom mycelium extract
Bees play a critical role in the world's food security through pollination. However, bee populations are declining globally, partly due to the loss of biodiversity and nutrition sources. To address this issue, researchers have explored the potential benefits of mushroom mycelium extracts on bee health.
The BeeMushroomed Feeder™ is an innovative delivery system designed to provide bees with mushroom mycelium extract, a nutritive food that supports their natural health. This feeder is the result of a collaboration between leading mycologist Paul Stamets, Paul Taylor, and the Washington State Beekeepers Association through the BeeFriendly™ research initiative.
The BeeMushroomed Feeder™ aims to make it easy for anyone to help feed local bees with proprietary mushroom mycelium extract. By engaging citizens worldwide in this mission, the goal is to create numerous health and nutrition hubs for bees across diverse landscapes. The feeder is currently in development, with efforts underway to address the regulatory context for this cutting-edge mycotechnology.
Preliminary research has shown promising results. Experiments conducted by Paul Stamets and Dr. Steve Sheppard of Washington State University found that mushroom mycelium extracts provide essential nutrition that boosts the immune system of bees, translating into improved hive health. Specifically, extracts from polypore mushrooms like Reishi and Amadou have demonstrated antiviral properties, reducing RNA virus titers in honey bees, including the DWV and LSV groups.
While the BeeMushroomed Feeder™ and BeeMushroomed Extract are not yet available for sale, interested individuals can join a mailing list to be notified when the product is ready for distribution. In the meantime, those passionate about bee conservation can support bee-friendly fungi cultivation and plant pollinator-friendly vegetation, especially native species with good sources of nectar and pollen.
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The benefits of Reishi and Amadou mushroom mycelium extracts
Bees have been observed foraging on mushroom mycelium, suggesting that they may be deriving medicinal or nutritional value from fungi. Research indicates that mushroom mycelium extracts provide essential nutrition that confers an immune benefit to bees. For example, extracts from the mycelium of Amadou (Fomes) and Reishi (Ganoderma) mushrooms have been found to significantly reduce the levels of the deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) in bees.
Amadou, also known as Fomes fomentarius, is a spongy material derived from fungi that grow on the bark of coniferous and angiosperm trees. It has great water-absorbing abilities and is used in fly fishing to dry out flies that have become wet. Amadou can also be used to form a felt-like fabric for making hats and other items, and can even be used as a kind of artificial leather.
Reishi mushrooms, also known as Ganoderma lucidum and lingzhi, grow in various hot and humid locations in Asia. They have been used for hundreds of years in Eastern medicine, mainly in Asian countries, for the treatment of infections. More recently, they have also been used to treat pulmonary diseases and cancer. Reishi mushrooms are believed to boost the immune system, reduce stress, improve sleep, and lessen fatigue. They may also be able to decrease the size and number of tumours in certain types of cancer and improve the quality of life for people with cancer.
However, it is important to note that Reishi mushrooms can cause digestive side effects and may be unsafe for certain people, especially those taking certain medications. For example, higher doses of Reishi mushrooms might make bleeding more likely in people with a very low platelet count. It is recommended that you speak with a healthcare professional before taking Reishi mushroom supplements to ensure that it is safe for you.
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How mushrooms can reduce viruses in bees
Bee populations are currently facing devastating declines, which pose a critical threat to the world's food security. One of the main causes of this decline is viruses spread by the varroa mite. While beekeepers have tried to control virus levels by reducing mite infestation rates using miticides, this method has only been marginally successful, as mites have quickly developed resistance to synthetic miticides.
However, research has shown that extracts of polypore mushroom mycelia can reduce viruses in bees. In field trials, colonies fed mycelium extracts from amadou and reishi fungi showed a 79-fold reduction in deformed wing virus (DWV) and a 45,000-fold reduction in Lake Sinai Virus (LSV) compared to control colonies. These extracts are orally active and readily consumed by bees, making them a promising tool for beekeepers to support bee health and provide critical pollination services.
The BeeFriendly™ research initiative, led by mycologist Paul Stamets, Dr. Steve Sheppard, and the Washington State Beekeepers Association, is exploring the use of mushroom mycelium extracts to improve bee health. Their experiments involve feeding honey bees different mushroom mycelium extracts, with initial results indicating that these extracts provide essential nutrition that boosts the bees' immune systems.
Fungi Perfecti, a family-owned company specializing in using mushrooms to improve the health of the planet and its inhabitants, has contributed significantly to bee research. They are working with entomologists to compare the effects of various fungal extracts on bees and develop accessible wild bee feeders to provide bees with beneficial mycelium. Their research has shown that mycelium extracts of polypore mushrooms (Reishi and Amadou) can boost bees' immune systems, offering a potential solution to the threats facing bee populations.
The BeeMushroomed Feeder™ is a patent-pending delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract, making it easily available to bees as a nutritive food source. This feeder is currently in development, with the aim of creating powerful points of health and nutrition for bees worldwide.
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How mushrooms can help fight mite infestations
Honey bees are facing a crisis, with colony collapse disorder threatening their existence. One of the major causes is the varroa mite, a parasite that invades hives, feeds on bees, and transmits viruses. Beekeepers have traditionally used chemicals to fight infestations, but mites are developing resistance to these treatments.
Mushrooms may offer a solution to this problem. Initial research has shown that extracts from the mycelium of certain mushroom species can reduce viruses in honey bees. Specifically, extracts from amadou (Fomes) and reishi (Ganoderma) fungi reduced levels of the deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) in colonies. These extracts are orally active and readily consumed by bees, suggesting potential applications for beekeepers.
Additionally, a new strain of Metarhizium, a common soil fungus, has been bred by a team at Washington State University to work as a control agent against varroa mites. Unlike other strains, this one can survive in the warm environments of honey bee hives. When spores of Metarhizium land on a varroa mite, they germinate, drill into the mite, and proliferate, killing it from the inside out. Bees have high immunity against the spores, making it a safe option for beekeepers.
The use of mushrooms to fight mite infestations offers a potential chemical-free method for eradicating mites and could help prevent the collapse of honey bee colonies.
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Frequently asked questions
Research has shown that extracts of several polypore mushrooms, including Reishi and Amadou, can reduce viruses in bees and confer an immune benefit.
Mushrooms contain substances with antiviral activity, which can reduce virus levels in bees. This can help bees fight viruses that cause colony collapse disorder.
You can help local bees by purchasing a BeeMushroomed Feeder™, which is a delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract. You can also plant pollinator-friendly flowers and vegetation, especially native species that provide good sources of nectar and pollen.
