Nosema infection in bees Domesticated and native bees face a variety of deadly threats that cause mortality and reduced fecundity and thus, by extension, endanger agriculture and native plant communities that rely on bees for pollination. While a substantial amount of research has been done investigating the causes of colony collapse disorder in the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, there is growing evidence over the past two decades that another pandemic of bees, both domesticated and native, is growing. In addition to the natural transmission of these pathogens, commercial products such as honey, bee pollen, and royal jelly can be contaminated and potentially disperse these pathogens 6. In addition to the changing distribution of these pathogens, genomic studies have revealed that isolates from geographically distinct countries have a very high level of genetic diversity and are potentially polyploid, and local populations within its native range have a unique set of single nucleotide polymorphisms that indicate evolutionary adaption within the native range 19,20.