According to this study,

>United States, almond pollination, have been characterized by brood mortality with specific symptoms, followed by eventual colony loss weeks later. In this study, we demonstrate that these symptoms can be produced by chronically exposing brood to both an organosilicone surfactant adjuvant (OSS) commonly used on many agricultural crops including wine grapes, tree nuts and tree fruits and exogenous viral pathogens by simulating a horizontal transmission event.

>We hypothesize that the use of organosilicone adjuvants in combination with exposure to common viruses present in the hive environment and transmitted during pollination events can result in the interrupted development and brood mortality observed in hives used for almond pollination. Although there are limited data regarding the spread of diseases during almond pollination, shared floral resources and drift between colonies occurring more often due to the close proximity of the colonies30,31 creates a high-risk scenario for potential spread of viruses16. Furthermore, we hypothesize that exposure to OSS treatments and an immune challenge will result in an inability to clear viral infections as evidenced by higher viral loads prior to pupation.

>The symptoms observed in our experiments allowed us to accurately identify patterns associated with OSS exposure and concurrent viral exposure that are most apt to be occurring during almond pollination. 


Bill Hesbach
Cheshire, CT.


Fine, Julia D. Cox-Foster, Diana L. Mullin, Christopher A.   An Inert Pesticide Adjuvant Synergizes Viral Pathogenicity and Mortality in Honey Bee Larvae - Scientific Reports


http://www.nature.com/articles/srep40499

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