AMES, Iowa — A new study conducted by researchers at Iowa State University and the University of Illinois suggests a deadly virus attacking honey bees alters their behavior and physiology in ways that boost the virus’ ability to spread.
The research, reported in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, known as IAPV, seems to change bee behavior in ways that overcome some of bees’ natural defenses against disease pathogens.