Li-Byarlay, H.

Insect pollinators face growing challenges from viral pathogens that may contribute to population declines, yet comparative data on virome composition in managed versus wild bees remain limited. Using RNA-Seq-based metatranscriptomic analysis, we compared the virome of Apis mellifera and Ceratina calcarata collected from agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes. We identified multiple known bee pathogens including Black Queen Cell Virus and Deformed Wing Virus in A. mellifera, and discovered three novel insect viruses - two iflaviruses and one entomopoxvirus -associated with C. calcarata. Notably, one novel iflavirus was identified in A. mellifera. Our findings reveal species- and landscape-specific viral prevalence, highlight viral diversity beyond canonical bee pathogens, and provide genomic resources for future functional studies. These data offer new insights into virus-host dynamics and underscore the utility of virome profiling in understanding pollinator health at the molecular level.