West Coast bees face a new threat from a highly contagious bacterial disease that seems to thrive among blueberries, but Washington researchers will be among those leading the charge against it.
Driving the news: In the most extensive study of its kind, scientists from across the West Coast will survey more than 1,500 honeybee hives in Washington, Oregon and California to determine why European foulbrood disease is leading to a persistent decline of the essential pollinators, according to Washington State University professor Brandon Hopkins.
- Researchers with WSU, Oregon State University and the University of California, Davis, will follow dozens of commercial beekeepers as they travel with their hives to pollinate crops throughout the U.S. — starting in February with the almond crops in California.
Why it matters: Beekeepers have been aware of European foulbrood disease for decades. However, its rapid resurgence over the last few years has caused many to worry about the disease’s potential to harm commercial food production of bee-dependent crops throughout the country.