Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » People & Locations » Steven Cook
Steven C Cook (PhD)
Bee Research Laboratory
Research Entomologist

Phone: (301) 504-0416
Fax: (301) 504-8736

(Employee information on this page comes from the REE Directory. Please contact your front office staff to update the REE Directory.)

Projects
Elucidating the Mechanisms of Varroa Mite Vectoring of DWV-like Viruses and the Capacity of Recombinant Virus Vectors to Control Varroa Mites
Cooperative Agreement (A)
  Accession Number: 441568
Managing Honey Bees Against Disease and Colony Stress
In-House Appropriated (D)
  Accession Number: 438129
Elucidating the Mechanisms of Varroa Mite Vectoring of DWV-like Viruses and the Capacity of Recombinant Virus Vectors to Control Varroa Mites
Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)
  Accession Number: 439622
Integrated control of Varroa mites at the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory
Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)
  Accession Number: 443764
Developing and Deploying Novel Tools to Support Varroa Mite IPM in Specialty Crop Pollinating Honey Bee Colonies
Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)
  Accession Number: 445746

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Prevalence and distribution of Varroa destructor and Nosema spp. in symptomatic honey bee colonies across the USA from 2015 to 2022 Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Abban, S.K., Smith, B., Corona, M.V., Cook, S.C., Evans, J.D., Chen, Y., Alburaki, M. 2024. Prevalence and distribution of Varroa destructor and Nosema spp. in symptomatic honey bee colonies across the USA from 2015 to 2022. Scientific Reports. Article e1726. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51514-9.
The efficacy of allyloxy-4 propoxybenzene (3c{3,6} against Varroa destructor mites in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies from Maryland, U.S.A Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C., Johnson, J.D., Rogers, C.W., Sachs, I.E., Feng, X., Plettner, E. 2024. The efficacy of allyloxy-4 propoxybenzene (3c{3,6} against Varroa destructor mites in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies from Maryland, U.S.A. Journal of Insect Science. 24(3):9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead111.
Deformed wing virus of honey bees is inactivated by cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C., Ryabov, E., Becker, C., Rogers, C.W., Posada-Florez, F.J., Evans, J.D., Chen, Y. 2023. Deformed wing virus of honey bees is inactivated by cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide . Frontiers in Insect Science. 3. Article e1216291. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2023.1216291.
Non-optimal ambient temperatures aggravate insecticide toxicity and affect honey bees Apis mellifera L. gene regulation Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alburaki, M., Madella, S., Cook, S.C. 2023. Non-optimal ambient temperatures aggravate insecticide toxicity and affect honey bees Apis mellifera L. gene regulation. Scientific Reports. 13. Article 3931. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30264-0.
Mediating a host cell signaling pathway linked to the overwinter mortality offers a promising therapeutic approach for improving bee health Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, Y., Liu, A., Huang, S., Evans, J.D., Cook, S.C., Palmer-Young, E., Corona, M.V., Alburaki, M., Liu, G., Han, R., Li, W., Hao, Y., Li, J., Gilligan, T., Smith-Pardo, A.H., Banmeke, O., Posada-Florez, F.J., Gao, Y.H., Hoffman, G.D., Xie, H., Chen, Y. 2022. Mediating a host cell signaling pathway linked to the overwinter mortality offers a promising therapeutic approach for improving bee health. Journal of Advanced Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2022.12.011.
The vectoring competence of the mite Varroa destructor for Deformed wing virus of honey bees is dynamic and affects survival of the mite Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ryabov, E.V., Posada-Florez, F.J., Rogers, C.W., Lamas, Z.S., Evans, J.D., Chen, Y., Cook, S.C. 2022. The vectoring competence of the mite Varroa destructor for Deformed wing virus of honey bees is dynamic and affects survival of the mite. Frontiers in Insect Science. 2:931352. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2022.931352.
Development and evaluation of a new effective tool and method for assessing varroadestructor (Acari: Varroidae) mite populations in honey bee colonies Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Posada-Florez, F., Abban, S.K., Smith, I.B., Cook, S.C. 2022. Development and evaluation of a new effective tool and method for assessing varroadestructor (Acari: Varroidae) mite populations in honey bee colonies . Insects. 13(5):457. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050457.
Resistance to amitraz in the parasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor is associated with mutations in the B-adrenergic like octopamine receptor Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hernandez-Rodfiguez, C.S., Moreno-Marti, S., Almecija, G., Christmon, K., Johnson, J., Ventelon, M., Vanengelsdorp, D., Cook, S.C., Gonzales-Cabrera, J. 2021. Resistance to amitraz in the parasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor is associated with mutations in the B-adrenergic like octopamine receptor. Journal of Pest Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01471-3.
Histological atlas of the internal anatomy of female varroa destructor mites in relation to feeding and reproduction Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sonenshine, D.E., Posada-Florez, F., Laudier, D., Gulbronson, C.J., Ramsey, S., Cook, S.C. 2021. Histological atlas of the internal anatomy of female varroa destructor mites in relation to feeding and reproduction. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 115(2):163-193. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saab043.
Transferrin-mediated iron sequestration suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling Nosema disease in the honey bee, Apis mellifera Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rodriguez-Garcia, C., Heerman, M.C., Cook, S.C., Evans, J.D., Hoffman, G.D., Banmeke, O.A., Zhang, Z., Huang, S., Hamilton, M.C., Chen, Y. 2021. Transferrin-mediated iron sequestration suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling Nosema disease in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. PLoS Pathogens. 17(2):e1009270. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009270.
A novel system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on artificial diets and its application for studying mites as a vector for honey bee viruses Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Posada-Florez, F., Ryabov, E., Heerman, M., Chen, Y., Evans, J.D., Sonenshine, D., Cook, S.C. 2020. A novel system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on artificial diets and its application for studying mites as a vector for honey bee viruses. PLoS ONE. 15(11): e0242688. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242688.
Gene expression and functional analyses of odorant receptors in small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, Y., Beaurepaire, A., Rogers, C.W., Lopez, D.L., Evans, J.D., Straub, L., Neumann, P., Cook, S.C., Huang, Q. 2020. Gene expression and functional analyses of odorant receptors in small hive beetles (Aethina tumida). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(13):4582. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21134582.
Insights into the feeding behaviors and biomechanics of Varroa destructor mites on honey bee pupae using electropentography and histology - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, A.Y., Cook, S.C., Sonenshine, D.E., Posada-Florez, F., Egekwu, N., Mowery, J.D., Gulbronson, C.J., Bauchan, G.R. 2019. Insights into the feeding behaviors and biomechanics of Varroa destructor mites on honey bee pupae using electropentography and histology. Journal of Insect Physiology. 119:103950.
Deformed wing virus type A, a major honey bee pathogen, is vectored by the mite Varroa destructor in a non-propagative manner Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Posada, F., Childers, A.K., Heerman, M.C., Egekwu, N., Cook, S.C., Chen, Y., Evans, J.D., Ryabov, E.V. 2019. Deformed wing virus type A, a major honey bee pathogen, is vectored by the mite Varroa destructor in a non-propagative manner. Scientific Reports. 9(1):1244. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47447-3.
The dynamics of deformed wing virus titer and host defensive gene expression after varroa mite parasitism in honey bees, Apis mellifera Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhao, Y., Heerman, M.C., Peng, W., Evans, J.D., Rose, R., Hoffman, G.D., Simone-Finstrom, M., Li, J., Li, Z., Cook, S.C., Su, S., Rodriguez-Garcia, C., Banmeke, O.A., Hamilton, M.C., Chen, Y. 2019. The dynamics of deformed wing virus titer and host defensive gene expression after varroa mite parasitism in honey bees, Apis mellifera. Insects. 10(1):16. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10010016.
Genome of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a worldwide parasite of social bee colonies, provides insights into detoxification and herbivory Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Evans, J.D., McKenna, D., Scully, E.D., Cook, S.C., Dainat, B., Egekwu, N.I., Grubbs, N., Lopez, D.L., Lorenzen, M., Reyna, S.M., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Neumann, P., Huang, Q. 2018. Genome of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a worldwide parasite of social bee colonies, provides insights into detoxification and herbivory. Gigascience. 7(12):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy138.
Chemical and dose-dependent effects of two neonicotinoids on honey bee metabolism Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C. 2019. Chemical and dose-dependent effects of two neonicotinoids on honey bee metabolism. Physiological Entomology. 10(1):18. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10010018.
Insights into the metabolism and behavior of the honey bee ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor, from quantitation and chemical analysis of their waste excretions Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Posada-Florez, F., Sonenshine, D.E., Egekwu, N.I., Rice, C., Lupitskyy, R., Cook, S.C. 2018. Insights into the metabolism and behavior of the honey bee ectoparasitic mite, varroa destructor, from quantitation and chemical analysis of their waste excretions. International Journal for Parasitology. 146(4):527-532. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018001762.
Using an in vitro system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on Apis mellifera hosts: Studies of mite longevity and feeding behavior - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Egekwu, N.I., Sonenshine, D.E., Posada, F., Cook, S.C. 2018. Using an in vitro system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on Apis mellifera hosts: Studies of mite longevity and feeding behavior. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 74:301-315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-018-0236-0.
Chronic Nosema ceranae infection inflicts comprehensive and persistent immunosuppression and accelerated lipid loss in host Apis mellifera honey bees Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, W., Chen, Y., Cook, S.C. 2018. Chronic Nosema ceranae infection inflicts comprehensive and persistent immunosuppression and accelerated lipid loss in host Apis mellifera honey bees. International Journal for Parasitology. 48:433-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.11.004.
The effects of Imidacloprid and Varroa destructor on the survival and health of European honey bees, Apis mellifera - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Abbo, P.M., Kawasaki, J.K., Hamilton, M.C., Cook, S.C., Hoffman, G.D., Li, W., Lie, J., Chen, Y. 2016. The effects of Imidacloprid and Varroa destructor on the survival and health of European honey bees, Apis mellifera. Insect Science. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.12335.
Seasonal effects of food macronutrient content on ants: Colony and individual responses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C., Eubanks, M.D., Gold, R.E., Behmer, S.T. 2016. Seasonal effects of food macronutrient content on ants: Colony and individual responses. Journal of Insect Physiology. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.02.001.
Variability in small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, reproduction in laboratory and field trials - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meikle, W.G., Holst, N., Cook, S.C., Patt, J.M. 2015. Variability in small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, reproduction in laboratory and field trials. Journal of Economic Entomology. doi: 10.1093/jee/tov101.
Transgenic Bt corn varietal resistance against the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Cramibidae) and implications to sugarcane Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Showler, A., Abrigo, V., Cook, S.C. 2013. Transgenic Bt corn varietal resistance against the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Cramibidae) and implications to sugarcane. Crop Protection. 48:57-62.
Two strains of Pseudomonas fluorscens bacteria differentially affect survivorship of waxworm (Galleria mellonella) larvae exposed to an arthropod fungal pathogen, Beauveria bassiana - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meikle, W.G., Bon, M., Cook, S.C., Gracia, C.G., Jaronski, S. 2013. Two strains of Pseudomonas fluorscens bacteria differentially affect survivorship of waxworm (Galleria mellonella) larvae exposed to an arthropod fungal pathogen, Beauveria bassiana. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 23(2): 220-233.
Seasonality directs contrasting food collection behavior and nutrient regulation strategies of ants - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C., Eubanks, M.D., Gold, R.E., Behmer, S.T. 2011. Seasonality directs contrasting food collection behavior and nutrient regulation strategies of ants. PLoS One. 6(9):Article e25407.
Macronutrient regulation in the Rasberry crazy ant (Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cook, S.C., Wynalda, R., Gold, R.E., Behmer, S.T. 2012. Macronutrient regulation in the Rasberry crazy ant (Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens). Insectes Sociaux. 59(1):93-100.
ARS News Articles