A sharp decline in honey bee numbers could be linked to a “zombifying” parasitic fly, scientists believe. Colony collapse disorder, marked by the sudden disappearance of worker bees, was recognised as a serious problem in 2006.
Evidence has emerged that Apocephalus borealis, which is known to attack bumble bees, is also targeting honey bees. The fly lays its eggs in the abdomen of a bee, which then displays “zombie” behaviour, abandoning its hive to congregate near lights. The research is published today in the online journal Public Library of Science