AURORA, Oregon — In a quiet wildflower field in Aurora, scientists and volunteers are closely watching a small but critical battle unfold, one that could shape the future of a key pollinator in the Pacific Northwest. Mason bees, prized for their efficiency as pollinators, are being threatened by an invasive parasite known as the Houdini fly.
“These really have the potential to hurt our mason bee populations,” said Abigail Lehner, a researcher from the University of California, Davis, who is studying the interaction between the insects.
Mason bees are considered among the most effective pollinators, transferring pollen to nearly every flower they visit. Unlike honeybees, they gather pollen on their abdomens as they move from bloom to bloom…