Bumblebee Medicine

Scientists have found that chemicals in Calluna heather can protect bees against a harmful parasite, says Val

- Val

IT’S the season of sore throats and colds, and my go-to cure-all is lemon and honey. I try to buy local honey, and while it’s more expensive it is less likely to contain pesticides – or that’s my theory. I sometimes buy heather honey, which is much darker and has a stronger flavour. Beekeeping friends tell me that some people don’t like the taste of heather honey, but I love it!

I was very interested to read a press release about an article published in Current Biology. Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Royal Holloway University of London made an interesting discovery. They found that Calluna heather contained a substance called callunene. This can act as a medicine and protects bumblebees against the harmful parasite Crithidia bombi. This parasite is common in wild bumblebees and it affects the gut, particularly in queen bees.

The scientists studied several different native plants for the medicinal properties contained in the nectar because they believe this might protect bees from disease and thereby halt their decline. They found that the species with the highest medicinal value was Calluna heather – the UK’s second most productive nectar plant, which is also found across Europe.