News Microbes

Bacteria in flowers may boost honeybees’ healthy gut microbes

Fructobacillus may be critical to larvae gaining ability to digest insects’ diet, study suggests

honeybee

BUSY BEE   A honeybee may collect beneficial bacteria while it’s harvesting pollen and nectar from flowers.

Swallowtail Garden Seeds

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

Honeybees were into probiotics way before they were cool, a new study suggests.

The hipster insects serve up beneficial bacteria that may help baby bees develop a healthy blend of gut microbes, researchers report online August 7 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.