Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been linked to the spread of Myrtle Rust in Australia

Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been linked to the spread of Myrtle Rust in Australia

¨     Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been linked to the spread of Myrtle Rust in Australia.

¨     Myrtle rust is a fungal plant disease caused by Austropuccinia psidii.

¨     The disease was first detected in Australia in 2010.

¨     It affects many native plant species belonging to the Myrtaceae family.

¨     Apis mellifera is a managed pollinator species widely used in commercial agriculture.

¨     Commercial bee colonies are transported across Australia for crop pollination.

¨     This movement creates pathways for the spread of pollen, spores, and other biological material.

Myrtle rust infects Myrtaceae plants, including:

¨     Eucalypts

¨     Paperbarks

¨     Bottlebrushes

Nearly 17% of Australia’s endemic vegetation is considered at risk from the disease.Scientists observed western honeybees collecting myrtle rust spores as a food source.The bees carry these spores back to their hives.Myrtle rust spores can remain viable and infectious for at least nine days inside bee hives.This persistence provides a pathway for the pathogen to spread through hive movement and pollination networks.The findings highlight important biosecurity and plant health concerns in Australia.The study improves understanding of how pollinators can unintentionally contribute to the spread of plant pathogens.