black queen cell virus
Quick Summary
Black queen cell virus (BQCV) is a virus that affects honeybees. It is a member of the Densovirus genus and is known to cause significant damage to bee colonies. BQCV can lead to the development of queen cells, which are structures where new queens are raised. If these cells are infected, the developing queen can be deformed or die, impacting the colony's ability to reproduce and thrive. The virus can weaken the colony, making it more susceptible to other diseases and stressors, and can contribute to colony collapse disorder.12
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
