The influence of dietary protein and lipid nutrients on bee-gut parasite interactions

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Bees are important for biodiversity and food security; responsible for pollinating 30% food crops globally (Khalifa et al., 2021). There are around 250 wild bee species in the UK, including solitary bee species and 24 bumblebee species (Woodcock et al., 2016). Pollinator populations are declining due to many interacting stressors including poor nutrition from habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and parasites (Goulson et al., 2015).Domesticated honeybee and bumblebee populations may drive the spread of parasites and their associated diseases in wild bee populations through facilitation, spill over and spillback of parasites (Graystock et al., 2016). Honeybees and bumblebees are host to a range of parasites. Intestinal parasites such as the trypanosomatid, Crithidia bombi and microsporidians like Nosema ceranae have been implicated in the decline of wild and domesticated bee populations (Brown, 2017).