Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees
12 hours ago
- #antiviral fungi
- #colony collapse
- #honey bee health
- Extracts from amadou (Fomes fomentarius) and reishi (Ganoderma) fungi reduce honey bee viruses DWV and LSV in a dose-dependent manner.
- Field trials showed Ganoderma resinaceum extract reduced DWV by 79-fold and LSV by 45,000-fold compared to controls.
- Honey bees may self-medicate by foraging on mushroom mycelium, indicating a potential social immunity benefit.
- Viruses like DWV and LSV, often spread by Varroa mites, are major factors in colony losses, and no direct antiviral treatments are currently available.
- Extracts from uninoculated birch wood also showed antiviral activity, possibly due to endophytic fungi, suggesting multiple sources of beneficial compounds.