Reduced Pollen Collection by Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies Infected with Nosema apis and Sacbrood Virus

A study to determine the effect of pathogens on pollen collection by colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is reported. Colonies fed preparations of 50% sucrose containing sacbrood virus particles or Nosema apis Zander spores collected significantly less pollen than colonies fed only the sucrose solution. These findings have important implications for the preparation and use of honey bee colonies for pollinating agricultural crops.