Recent research indicates that a second, more dangerous strain of the deformed wing virus will quickly take centre stage.

A devastating virus that attacks bee wings has recently spread around the globe, wreaking havoc on bee populations.

A new strain of deformed wing virus (DWV) appeared in the Netherlands in 2001 and is now causing an upsurge in cases, according to scientists. The virus was initially identified 40 years ago.

The parasite mite known as Varroa Destructor is the primary vector for the virus, which primarily affects honeybees.

Professor Robert Paxton, a zoologist from Germany's Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), shed light on the topic, explaining that these mites do more than just transmit viruses among honeybees; they also consume the bees' tissues.

The researchers discovered that the virus mutation has already supplanted the original strain in Europe after reviewing data on DWV infections over the previous 20 years. Its rapid global proliferation has made it a danger to beehives everywhere.

Because the Varroa mite has not yet established a widespread presence in Australia, this is probably the reason why the virus has not been identified on any large continent.

It is well-documented that bees are in a precarious situation due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Friends of the Earth, an environmental organisation, reports that one out of ten wild bee populations in Europe are in danger of going extinct.

According to Paxton, "Deformed wing virus is the biggest threat to honeybees," even if there are several ways in which people are threatening these vital pollinators.

According to his analysis of over three thousand honeybee and large earth bumblebee datasets, the new variation is more easily transferred and kills bees faster, according to laboratory tests.

What is the impact of the deformed wing virus on bees?

The hallmark of both the original DWV-A strain and its variation, DWV-B, are shrunken wings. However, the virus infiltrates beehives internally.

Bees will have less than 48 hours to live after it takes hold, and additional symptoms include short, rounded abdomens and paralysed legs. Most of the time, bees will remove ill-effecting insects from the hive.

Paxton says that honeybees can be protected from viruses and the Varroa mite in several methods.

Maintaining a clean environment in the hive is of utmost importance. Here, even the most inexperienced beekeeper may take some basic precautions to shield their colony and any strays from the Varroa mite.

Samples collected from bee species, such as huge earth bumblebees, that aren't typically kept commercially also showed signs of the virus.

The future of bumblebees and other wild bees is unknown in light of the virus's potentially catastrophic effects. According to Paxton, commercial bumblebee colonies that have been infected with the virus have not shown a substantial increase in mortality.