Male honey bees more susceptible to parasite

Male honey bees are more susceptible to a fungal intestinal parasite (Nosema ceranae) than females, researchers from the University of Bern have found.

Male honey bees die much sooner and have a poorer body condition compared to females when infected with the parasite. Weak, unhealthy, male drones might not be able to mate with the queen bee, affecting the overall success of the colony.

The fungus comes from Asia and has spread rapidly throughout the world. It is believed to be responsible for a large number of colony deaths in the Northern Hemisphere.