Development and verification of a standardised protocol for the detection of parasite infection levels in commercially-produced bumblebee colonies

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Tens of thousands of commercially-produced bumblebee colonies are imported to the UK per annum for crop pollination, part of a global trade which exceeds one million colonies per annum. Pathogen spillover from these colonies poses a major threat to native bumblebees. Our NERC-funded research has shown that regulatory and commercial attempts to prevent this threat have been unsuccessful and that the imported hives carry many parasites. To address the major needs identified by the relevant regulatory authority (Natural England) and conservation organisation (Bumblebee Conservation Trust), this project will develop and validate a robust, evidence-based protocol for the disease-screening of commercially-produced bumblebee colonies, and a genetic marker to distinguish native bumblebees from imported subspecies. This will provide regulatory authorities and conservation organisations worldwide with standardised and reliable protocols which they can require as part of their licences or utilise to verify licence compliance.