Colony-Level Viral Load Influences Collective Foraging in Honey Bees

Nutrition is an important component of social insect colony health especially in the face stressors such as parasitism and viral infections. Honey bees are known to preferentially select nectar pollen based on macronutrient phytochemical contents response pathogen loads. However, given that honey live colonies, collective foraging decisions may be impacted directly by forager infection status but also health. This field experiment was conducted determine if bee infections correlated with these associations more or infection. By comparing regressions without variables through structural equation models, we were able relative contributions virus loads decisions. We found foragers had higher numbers levels BQCV CBPV lower DWV viruses than their respective colonies. Overall, individuals appeared forage a combination own greater weight metrics. Colony Varroa mites, positively both DWV-B levels, negatively associated weight. Further, individually foraged protein: lipid ratios sugar content. study shows can simultaneously mediate individual importance parasite varies this work highlights continued need explore interactions disease, nutrition, genetics structures.