Agri-environment scheme nectar chemistry can suppress the social epidemiology of parasites in an important pollinator

Emergent infectious diseases are one of the main drivers species loss. infection with microsporidian Nosema bombi has been implicated in population and range declines a suite North American bumblebees, group important pollinators. Previous work shown that phytochemicals found pollen nectar can negatively impact parasites individuals, but how this relates to social epidemiology by extension whether plants be effectively used as pollinator disease management strategies remains unexplored. Here, we undertook comprehensive screen UK agri-environment scheme (AES) plants, programme designed benefit pollinators wider biodiversity agricultural settings, for using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Caffeine, which occurs across plant families, was identified sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia ), component AES major global crop. We showed caffeine significantly reduces N. intensity, both prophylactically therapeutically, individual bumblebees Bombus terrestris and, first time, such effects epidemiology, colonies reared from wild-caught queens having lower prevalence intensity infection. Furthermore, foraging caffeine-treated colonies, suggesting likely reduction population-level transmission. Combined, these results show is less transmitted intracolonially when consume naturally available caffeine, may turn reduce environmental prevalence. Consequently, our demonstrate floral at ecologically relevant concentrations planting increase abundance support could co-opted tools.