Dive Brief:

• According to a study from the University of Exeter, commercial bees are transmitting diseases to wild bees and other insects, such as wasps, ants, and hoverflies.
• Certain species of bees are commercially used to pollinate crops, such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, and oilseed rape, and these bees can sometimes also breed diseases that can be introduced into the wild if not managed properly.
• Experts conclude that new measures must be taken before this has a "devastating" impact on these insect species.

Dive Insight:

Diseases like Deformed Wing Virus and Colony Collapse Disorder are two common diseases that wreak havoc on commercial bee populations. When commercial bees are mismanaged, such as being accidentally released into the wild, these diseases - often carried by mites that jump from bee to bee - spread rapidly to wild pollinators. If it gets out of hand, this could have a profound impact on plant and insect life, which could then affect other animals and potentially humans.