# Bumblebee transmission of bee paralysis virus

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bumblebee-transmission-of-bee-paralysis-virus
> Updated: 2026-09-03T06:56:45.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Researchers from the Universities of Halle and Göttingen have identified that the Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV) can spread between different species of pollinators. A large-scale field study involving the analysis of 1,725 bees revealed that while honeybees are the primary carriers for Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), the buff-tailed bumblebee serves as a central host and ‘silent carrier’ for ABPV.

Published in the journal Ecology Letters, the findings challenge previous scientific assumptions that the virus originated solely within honeybee populations before jumping to other species. The study highlights how cross-species transmission within a pollinator community can facilitate the spread of deadly diseases, impacting the overall health of honeybee populations.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-03: Bumblebees identified as key carriers of deadly bee paralysis virus

Research from the Universities of Halle and Göttingen shows that bumblebees act as key carriers for the Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), spreading it between different pollinator species.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bumblebees-identified-as-key-carriers-of-deadly-bee-paralysis-virus-1

### 2026-08-20: Bumblebees identified as key carriers of deadly bee paralysis virus

A study by German universities reveals that bumblebees act as key hosts and transmitters of the deadly Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV) to honeybees and other pollinators.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bumblebees-identified-as-key-carriers-of-deadly-bee-paralysis-virus

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Cite as: Bumblebee transmission of bee paralysis virus. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bumblebee-transmission-of-bee-paralysis-virus