Fugitives spread bumblebee diseases

Pathogens hitchhike on commercial bees that escape from greenhouses

Bumblebees sneak out from work, too, and fugitives buzzing away from the job at commercial greenhouses could be spreading diseases to wild bumblebees and contributing to pollinator declines.

NOT BUMBLING The bumblebee species Bombus impatiens has become a commercial farm worker in North America, pollinating crops that honeybees don’t have the buzz power to handle.