http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101222173037.htm

Penn State researchers have found that native pollinators, like wild bees
> and wasps, are infected by the same viral diseases as honey bees and that
> these viruses are transmitted via pollen. This multi-institutional study
> provides new insights into viral infections in native pollinators,
> suggesting that viral diseases may be key factors impacting pollinator
> populations.


Lots of food for thought here in regard to discussions about pollen and
pesticides when it may be just the virus.

So any tests of pollen fed to honeybees have to start by eliminating virus
in the pollen, otherwise the tests are invalid.

Lots of ramifications from this finding by Diana Cox-Foster.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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