Protect the pollinators Since 2006, commercial beekeepers in the US have reported average honey bee colony loss at 30% each winter and from 2022 to 2023, the Bee Informed Partnership estimates that 48% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. Without honeybees pollinating the world’s crops, entire ecosystems will break down. Luckily, researchers found a fungus that adapted to help bees preserve their most vital resource: bee bread. What is bee bread? Honeybees combine pollen, saliva, and nectar into a mixture that ferments within the honeycomb cells. This “bread” supplies essential nutrients for the colony’s survival, and fermentation prevents the vital resource from spoiling. Aspergillus flavus : This fungus is often found in bee bread, and researchers have discovered a symbiotic relationship it shares with the bees. The strains of A. flavus sampled from honeybee hives were found to have higher tolerance to acidic conditions, low moisture levels, and exposure to propolis — an antimicrobial substance bees create. Benefits for both species: Aspergillus flavus helps to ferment and preserve the bee bread, contributing to a more balanced microbial environment within the hive. In return, the fungus has a safe home within the hive and nutrient sources of its own. Scientists are looking to capitalize on this symbiosis to protect bee populations further. Read more here.