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

Honey bees have long been regarded as one of agriculture's most valuable allies. Introduced to Australia by European settlers in the early 19th century, the western honey bee has spent more than 200 years helping pollinate crops and native plants across the country. However, new research published in NeoBiota suggests the insect may have formed an unexpected partnership with one of Australia's most destructive plant diseases, potentially helping it spread farther than scientists previously believed.

What is myrtle rust and why is it a threat?