Scientists discovered that wild honeybees have more diverse and healthy gut bacteria and microbes compared to honeybees that are managed by humans. Wild honeybees, especially a species called Apis cerana, have special microbes that help them survive cold winters by extracting more energy from their food. Managed honeybees tend to have simpler gut communities dominated by one type of bacteria. This research suggests that giving honeybees more diverse food sources and avoiding antibiotics might help them stay healthier during winter, which is when many colonies struggle to survive.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How the tiny living organisms in honeybee stomachs differ between wild bees and bees kept by humans, and whether these differences help bees survive winter
  • Who participated: Two types of honeybees: wild Apis cerana bees, managed Apis cerana bees, and managed Apis mellifera bees (the common honeybee). The researchers collected gut samples during winter when bees are most vulnerable
  • Key finding: Wild honeybees have more diverse gut microbes, including special methane-producing organisms that may help them extract more energy from food during winter. Managed bees have simpler gut communities with less diversity
  • What it means for you: If you keep honeybees, this research suggests that allowing bees access to diverse food sources and avoiding antibiotics might strengthen their winter survival. However, more research is needed before beekeepers should change their practices

The Research Details

Researchers collected gut samples from three groups of honeybees during winter: wild Apis cerana, managed Apis cerana, and managed Apis mellifera. They used a special genetic testing method called 16S rRNA sequencing to identify all the bacteria and archaea (a different type of single-celled organism) living in the bee guts. They also used computer programs to predict what these microbes might be doing inside the bee’s digestive system.

The scientists compared the types and amounts of different microbes between the three groups. They looked for patterns in which microbes were present and which were missing. They also tried to understand how these microbes might work together to help bees digest food and survive winter conditions when food is scarce.

Understanding what lives in bee guts is important because these microbes help bees digest food, fight off diseases, and survive harsh winters. If we can figure out why wild bees have healthier gut communities, we might be able to help managed honeybee colonies survive better, which matters because honeybees pollinate many of the crops we eat

This study is descriptive and hypothesis-generating, meaning it raises good questions but doesn’t provide definitive answers. The researchers only used one pooled sample from each group, which limits how confident we can be in the results. The computer predictions about what the microbes are doing need to be tested in future experiments. The findings are interesting starting points for more research, not final conclusions

What the Results Show

Wild Apis cerana bees had the most diverse collection of gut microbes compared to both types of managed bees. This diversity included special archaea (methane-producing organisms) that were much more common in wild bees than in managed bees. These methane-producing organisms may help wild bees extract more energy from their food during winter when resources are limited.

Managed Apis cerana and managed Apis mellifera bees had simpler gut communities that were dominated by one type of bacteria called Lactobacillus. This means managed bees had less variety in their gut microbes. The managed Apis cerana bees showed signs of having more genes related to breaking down carbohydrates and repairing damaged cells.

Interestingly, many of the archaeal sequences from managed bees couldn’t be identified by the researchers’ tools, suggesting that current scientific databases and testing methods don’t capture all the microbes that exist in managed bee guts. This is an important gap in our scientific knowledge.

The research suggests that the difference in gut microbes between wild and managed bees might be related to diet and management practices. Wild bees have access to diverse plant sources throughout the year, while managed bees often receive standardized food. The researchers also noted that managed bees may be exposed to antibiotics, which could reduce the diversity of their gut microbes. The pattern of bacterial-archaeal cooperation in wild bees suggests these microbes work together to improve energy extraction, though this needs direct testing

Previous research has shown that diverse gut microbes generally help insects survive stress and disease. This study builds on that knowledge by showing that wild honeybees maintain this diversity while managed bees lose it. The finding that managed bees have simpler gut communities aligns with other research showing that human management practices can reduce microbial diversity in animals. However, this is one of the first studies to specifically compare wild and managed honeybees during winter and to look at both bacteria and archaea together

The biggest limitation is that the researchers only used one pooled sample from each group of bees, which means they couldn’t account for individual variation or confirm their findings were consistent across multiple samples. The computer predictions about what the microbes are doing are based on genetic information and haven’t been tested in actual experiments. The testing methods couldn’t identify all the archaea present, leaving gaps in the picture. The study is descriptive rather than experimental, so it can’t prove that the microbe differences actually cause differences in winter survival

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, beekeepers might consider: (1) providing diverse food sources to managed colonies when possible, (2) minimizing antibiotic use unless necessary to treat disease, and (3) exploring ways to introduce beneficial microbes into managed colonies. However, these are preliminary suggestions that need more research before becoming standard practice. Confidence level: Low to moderate—this is early-stage research that needs validation

Beekeepers, especially those managing honeybee colonies, should find this interesting. Scientists studying bee health and microbes should definitely pay attention. Farmers and gardeners who depend on honeybees for pollination may eventually benefit from improved bee health. General readers interested in how nature manages resources better than humans might find the wild-versus-managed comparison fascinating. People should NOT use this research to self-treat bee-related health issues or make major changes to beekeeping practices without consulting with beekeeping experts

If beekeepers implement changes based on this research, improvements in colony survival would likely take at least one full year to observe, since winter survival is the key measure. Changes to gut microbe diversity might happen within weeks to months, but the actual survival benefits would only be clear after bees go through a complete winter cycle

Want to Apply This Research?

  • For beekeepers using an app: Track colony survival rates through winter, food source diversity (number of different plants available), antibiotic use frequency, and any microbial interventions attempted. Record these monthly and compare survival outcomes between colonies with different management approaches
  • Beekeepers could use an app to: (1) log available forage plants by season to ensure dietary diversity, (2) set reminders to minimize unnecessary antibiotic treatments, (3) track which colonies receive supplemental diverse food sources, and (4) monitor winter survival rates to see if changes correlate with better outcomes
  • Create a long-term tracking system that records: monthly colony health assessments, seasonal food availability, any treatments given, and winter survival rates. Compare data year-over-year to identify patterns between management practices and colony resilience. Share anonymized data with beekeeping research communities to help validate these preliminary findings

This research is preliminary and descriptive in nature. The findings are based on limited samples and should not be used as the sole basis for changing beekeeping practices. Anyone managing honeybee colonies should consult with local beekeeping experts, extension services, or veterinarians before implementing changes based on this research. This study does not provide medical advice for treating bee diseases or health conditions. The computer predictions about microbial functions are provisional and have not been experimentally validated. Always follow established beekeeping best practices and local regulations regarding antibiotic use and hive management.