In 1822, Europeans brought honey bees to Australia as agricultural heroes; 200 years later, researchers found they were helping tree death spread faster than wind

New research published in NeoBiota suggests western honey bees may be helping spread myrtle rust, a destructive fungal disease threatening Australia's native plants. Scientists found that bees collect and transport infectious fungal spores, which can survive inside hives for days. Researchers warn this could accelerate the fungus's spread as commercial bee colonies are moved across the country, with potential implications for biodiversity and global biosecurity.