Bacteria in flowers may boost honeybees’ healthy gut microbes

Honeybees were into probiotics way before they were cool, a new study suggests.

The hipster insects serve up beneficial bacteria that may help baby bees develop a healthy blend of gut microbes,researchers report online August 7 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Without those thriving gut communities, the critical pollinators may have trouble digesting their plant-based food.

It’s a lot like getting a dollop of probiotic yogurt, says study coauthor Irene Newton, a microbiologist at Indiana Univer

Source: Bacteria in flowers may boost honeybees’ healthy gut microbes | Science News