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Title: Eristalis flower flies can be mechanical vectors of the common trypanosome bee parasite, Crithidia bombi
Abstract Flowers can be transmission platforms for parasites that impact bee health, yet bees share floral resources with other pollinator taxa, such as flies, that may be hosts or non-host vectors (i.e., mechanical vectors) of parasites. Here, we assessed whether the fecal-orally transmitted gut parasite of bees,Crithidia bombi, can infectEristalis tenaxflower flies. We also investigated the potential for two confirmed solitary bee hosts ofC. bombi,Osmia lignariaandMegachile rotundata, as well as two flower fly species,Eristalis arbustorumandE. tenax,to transmit the parasite at flowers. We found thatC. bombidid not replicate (i.e., cause an active infection) inE. tenaxflies. However, 93% of inoculated flies defecated liveC. bombiin their first fecal event, and all contaminated fecal events containedC. bombiat concentrations sufficient to infect bumble bees. Flies and bees defecated inside the corolla (flower) more frequently than other plant locations, and flies defecated at volumes comparable to or greater than bees. Our results demonstrate thatEristalisflower flies are not hosts ofC. bombi, but they may be mechanical vectors of this parasite at flowers. Thus, flower flies may amplify or diluteC. bombiin bee communities, though current theoretical work suggests that unless present in large populations, the effects of mechanical vectors will be smaller than hosts.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1852141
PAR ID:
10484432
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Nature Portfolio
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Scientific Reports
Volume:
11
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2045-2322
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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