The highly social (eusocial) corbiculate bees, comprising the honey bees, bumble bees, and
stingless bees, are ubiquitous insect pollinators that fulfill critical roles in ecosystem services …

Most bacterial species encompass strains with vastly different gene content. Strain diversity
in microbial communities is therefore considered to be of functional importance. Yet little is …

Pollination services provided by wild insect pollinators are critical to natural ecosystems and
crops around the world. There is an increasing appreciation that the gut microbiota of these …

Background Microbial acquisition and development of the gut microbiota impact the
establishment of a healthy host-microbes symbiosis. Compared with other animals, the …

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators in natural and agricultural
ecosystems, and yet are in significant decline due to several factors including parasites …

Social corbiculate bees such as honey bees and bumble bees maintain a specific beneficial
core microbiome which is absent in wild bees. It has been suggested that maintaining this …

The gut microbiome of bees is vital for the health of their hosts. Given the ecosystem
functions performed by bees, and the declines faced by many species, it is important to …

Background Individuals that band together create new ecological opportunities for
microorganisms. In vertical transmission, theory predicts a conserved microbiota within …

Animals living in social communities typically harbor a characteristic gut microbiota
important for nutrition and pathogen defense. Accordingly, in the gut of the honey bee, Apis …

Bees forage for pollen and nectar at flowers but simultaneously acquire pathogenic,
commensal, and likely beneficial microbes from these same flowers. Characterizing pollen …