Europe PMC · 2026-05-28
A mathematical model shows that adding too many managed honeybee colonies can push wild bees out of an area, especially when parasites spread between species. The right amount of supplementation, however, can actually stabilize bee communities and reduce disease-driven population swings.
Excessive managed-colony supplementation risks driving wild bees to local extinction through a combination of floral resource competition and parasite spillover.
Intermediate supplementation levels can stabilize bee community dynamics and dampen population oscillations, suggesting a 'Goldilocks zone' for managed hive density.
The system exhibits hysteresis near tipping points, meaning wild bee loss from over-supplementation may not be reversible simply by reducing hive numbers — sudden regime shifts can lock communities into a new state.