Research Project: Sustainable Crop Production and Wildland Preservation through the Management, Systematics, and Conservation of a Diversity of Bees

Location: Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research

2022 Annual Report

Objectives
Objective 1: Improve crop pollination by alfalfa leafcutting bees, bumble bees and mason bees by identifying the environmental and biological factors that impact bee health during propagation and pollination and develop new and improved bee management strategies to ensure healthy, sustainable pollinator populations. Subobjective 1.1: Improve best management practices for pollinator use in cropping systems that result in sustainable pollinator supply for continued crop pollination. Subobjective 1.2: Identify impacts of xenobiotic factors on managed bee health (climatic factors, phenological mismatch, temperature range, etc.), host-plant [nutritional value/ host plant chemicals], invasives, pesticides. Subobjective 1.3: Examine the linkage between nutrition and bee performance in non-Apis bees (immunity, longevity, and reproduction). Subobjective 1.4: Develop effective treatments of pathogen, pest, and parasites in non-Apis bees. Subobjective 1.5. Devise new sampling and diagnostic methods for bee pests and diseases. Objective 2: Improve bee systematics and develop new tools for rapid bee identification to enhance the understanding of wild bee diversity and the identification of environmental and biological factors that promote wild bee sustainability. Subobjective 2.1: Evaluate bee biodiversity and improve the taxonomic and systematic knowledge needed to achieve effective bee conservation stewardship.

Approach
Objective 1: Improve crop pollination by alfalfa leafcutting bees, bumble bees and mason bees by identifying the environmental and biological factors that impact bee health during propagation and pollination and develop new and improved bee management strategies to ensure healthy, sustainable pollinator populations. 1.1. Hypotheses will be tested using field studies with measurement of bee health and pollination performance to improve management of mason bees and bumble bees. Experiments will examine interactions of mason with honey bees in co-deployment and impacts on pathogens as detected using molecular methods. 1.2. Exposure to agrichemicals via soil and leaf pieces by solitary bees will be quantified. The hypothesis that sublethal exposure agrichemicals including adjuvants impacts bee health will be tested for honey bees and alfalfa leafcutting bees using experimental manipulation and examine interactions with pathogens. 1.3. Hypotheses will be tested that nutrition (amino acid and sugar sources) can impact the reproduction and life span of alfalfa leafcutting bees. We will determine how the nutritional requirements of a bumble bee colony changes during colony age, as well as the maximal and minimal foraging range of Bombus huntii. 1.4. Hypotheses to examine control of chalkbrood and pollen ball formation via antimicrobial disinfectants will be tested for solitary bees. The life cycle and control of a major emerging parasitoid (Melittobia sp.) in alfalfa leafcutting bees will be determined. 1.5. Molecular methods will identify parasites, parasitoids, and pathogens of mason bees and alkali bees. Non-lethal methods to sample bumble bees parasites and pathogens will be developed. With molecular data, we will identify the species of Melittobia found in managed bees and characterize genetic diversity across populations. Objective 2: Improve bee systematics and develop new tools for rapid bee identification to enhance the understanding of wild bee diversity and the identification of environmental and biological factors that promote wild bee sustainability. We will 1) develop up-to-date taxonomies informed by phylogeny, 2) produce web-accessible bee identification tools, and 3) capture biological data present in museum specimens. To accomplish this, we will continue our efforts to survey bees across the western U.S, digitize bee collections, and conduct systematic studies of groups in need of revision. We will use molecular data, especially phylogenomic information derived from DNA sequences using ultra-conserved elements, to build phylogenies and refine species boundaries. The sequence information will be combined with taxonomic keys and images to allow non-experts to more easily identify bees.

Progress Report
This report documents progress for Project 2080-21000-019-000D “Sustainable Crop Production and Wildland Preservation through the Management, Systematics and Conservation of a Diversity of Bees”. Of the 20,000 bee species worldwide, few are successfully managed to pollinate agricultural crops; although, pollination by native bee species can have major impact on crop yield and quality. Natural ecosystems provide habitats for native bees visiting agriculture and serve as a reserve for sourcing pollinator species. ARS scientists in Logan, Utah, continue research to improve production and management of several species of social and solitary bees, seek novel pollinators to meet pollination needs, and learn how native bee populations contribute to crop pollination. The project has two goals: (1) Improve crop pollination by non-Apis bees by identifying factors that impact bee health and develop bee management strategies to ensure pollinator populations; (2) Improve bee systematics and develop new tools for rapid bee identification to enhance understanding of wild bee diversity and presence. ARS scientists at Logan, Utah, have reported research on solitary bees, bumble bees, and honey bees of relevance to the general public, alfalfa seed producers, almond growers, fruit growers, bumble bee producers, honey bee keepers, tomato producers, and agencies such as: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine Program, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Services (USGS), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Expertise has been provided to private citizens and to non-profit conservation groups such as Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. With increased focus on native bees, ARS scientists in Logan, Utah, have actively collaborated in native bee surveys. For Sub-objective 1.1, significant progress was made using Blue Orchard Bees (BOB) in crop production. Using previous successes with BOBs in almond, cherry and pear pollination, new research in California in almonds is asking if BOB populations sourced from different states can adapt to the changing climate to emerge earlier with warming temperatures. For Sub-objective 1.2, experiments were continued on the impacts of organosilicone spray (OSS) adjuvants. BOB larvae were fed pollen with different concentrations of OSS with and without viruses. The OSS at moderate doses caused death of early instar larvae. No added mortality was observed with viral infections, but viruses did negatively impact adult emergence. With collaborators, an ARS researcher measured pesticides in pollen collected by bees during blueberry and alfalfa seed pollination. The researchers detected 80 pesticides in blueberry pollen, taken from honey bees and bumble bees. All pollen samples contained pesticides (average of 22 pesticides per sample), even on farms with no pesticide applications. For alfalfa pollen and soil taken from alkali bee nests, pesticides not actively applied to the crop were detected in the soil. These data give evidence of widespread pesticide exposure for managed bees in agricultural landscapes For Sub-objective 1.3, experiments examined the forage needs of different species of bees and the interactions of the bees, using honey bee colonies, sentinel colonies of native bumble bees, and solitary Osmia bees. Solitary bees were found to do well when given a single floral resource; however, both honey bees and bumble bees required multiple floral resources for colony survival and reproduction. For alfalfa seed production, coordinating bee emergence with alfalfa bloom is critical for maximum seed production; however, weather conditions can cause disruptions. When weather conditions cause bee managers to hold alfalfa leafcutting bees while waiting for the plants to bloom, ARS researchers found that feeding the bees honey-water for five days or less assures the bees will perform well as pollinators. Not feeding the bees or only providing water caused the bees to die quickly or perform badly. Performance as pollinators was best when bees could be released directly into the field. For Sub-objective 1.4, research on treatment of pathogens and parasites continues. Alfalfa leafcutting bees (ALCB) are essential pollinators of alfalfa seed crops. A tiny parasitic wasp (Melittobia) has disrupted managed ALCB incubation with devastatingly high losses of bee stocks. Even if the wasps occur in a low percent of cocoons, they can move quickly into nearby cocoons and cause high losses. New best management practices for control of this wasp and other types of parasitic wasps includes moving bee stocks to cold-over-winter storage by mid fall and including a dichlorvos pesticide strip during incubation when bees are being warmed for summer emergence. If the strip is removed before bees emerge, no impacts were found on the bees and their performance. For Sub-objective 1.5, towards defining pathogens and their identifications, additional research has been performed on the microsporidian pathogens of Blue Orchard bees. Previously, a high percentage of diapausing adult bees were found to be infected with microsporidia. Sequences confirmed one of the species as Nosema ceranae and the other sequences were unknown microsporidia species. In a controlled experiment, BOB larvae were fed spores of Nosema ceranae and followed through to adult emergence. The bees fed Nosema ceranae had increased mortality throughout development. Additional assays are being performed to ask how the microsporidian impact gene expression and if agrichemicals impact the outcome of the infections. For Sub-objective 2.1, much research has been performed. PIBMSRU is the home of the U.S. National Pollinating Insect Collection (NPIC), a world-class research collection of bees and related wasps with over 1.9 specimens. NPIC also has an associated database that has information for specimens, including plant/pollinator associations. ARS researchers have partnered with data specialists at the USDA National Agriculture Library and other USDA agencies on “Agricultural biodiversity: plant-pollinator data”. This effort will help create data and digital standards and best practices for understanding plant/pollinator interactions at the international level through the Interest Group on Agricultural Data (IGAD) at the Research Data Alliance and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Several different groups of bees and their classification and phylogeny have been revisited and the work is proceeding. For the long-horned bee tribe Eucerini, ARS researchers and academic collaborators from Brazil and Israel sampled genomic data from over 153 species to examine the group’s taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography. The researchers improved the taxonomic resolution and understanding of this group's evolution. The long-horned bee tribe Eucerini includes over 750 species and are important pollinators of wild and agriculturally important plants, such as squash and relatives. For orchid bees, ARS researchers and collaborators generated molecular data for all color forms in two groups of Eulaema species. In both cases, molecular data revealed that color does not accurately separate species and that each species group likely includes a single species with many color morphs. Two major projects have been initiated with collaborators in ARS and universities. The “Beenome100” is a research effort to produce high-quality genomes of at least 100 bee species, capturing the diversity of bees in the United States. ARS researchers at Logan, Utah, are joining other ARS and university researchers to perform this research, by helping to guide species selection, collection of specimens, and data analysis. In collaboration with Kansas State University researchers, ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, are helping to further develop state-of-the-art methods in computer vision and artificial intelligence to perform species-level bee identification. The Mojave Poppy Bee was found pollinating the rare Dwarf Bear Poppy (Arctomecon humilis) in Utah and later in 1995 in Nevada on the rare poppy Arctomecon californica. Since 1995, Mojave Poppy Bees appear to have experienced severe declines in Utah. Four surveys prior to 2020 for this bee in Utah lacked detection and resulted in the conclusion that the bee maybe locally extinct in Utah. Surveys in 2020 at multiple sites in Nevada did find the Mojave Poppy Bee on several populations of the rare poppies. Several male specimens were collected to generate a genome for the bee as part of the Beenome 100 project. In 2021 and 2022, in extensive surveys in areas under extreme drought conditions, poppies were found blooming and being visited by other bee species. However, no Mojave Poppy Bees were detected. In 2023, there are plans to revisit sites to determine if this bee can be found. In 2022, an ARS team completed a two-year survey of bee species in Pinnacles National Park, California, as part a three-decade study determining if bee diversity is stable in a protected landscape. Results found a continued rich bee fauna and highlight the value of protected lands to conserve pollinators. To understand interactions between species and the potential impact of placement of honey bee apiaries on endemic native bees, controlled experiments have been performed in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. With a collaborator, permitted apiary sites are being used at three locations. At each location, sentinel colonies of native bumble bees and solitary bee nests are being monitored at the apiary and a non-apiary site located five km away. For all locations, endemic native bees are being sampled along with floral counts. The native bees and floral resources are being identified to species.

Accomplishments
1. New management tactic to ensure healthy bees for pollination of alfalfa seed crops. For alfalfa seed production, the alfalfa leafcutting bee is an essential pollinator managed by seed growers. Coordinating bee emergence with alfalfa bloom is critical for maximum seed production; however, weather conditions can disrupt the coordination. For times when weather conditions cause bee managers to retain alfalfa leafcutting bees in incubators while waiting for the plants to bloom, ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, found that feeding the bees honey-water for five days or less assures the bees will perform well as pollinators; whereas, not feeding the bees or only providing water caused the bees to die quickly or perform badly. Performance as pollinators was best when bees could be released directly into the field. Alfalfa growers can benefit by using this tactic during uncertain weather conditions with climate change.

2. Identifying and measuring concentrations of pesticides found in pollen collected by managed bees during blueberry pollination. Managed bees are a vital and essential for successful blueberry production. Growers rent honey bee colonies as well as purchase managed bumble bee colonies for pollination. Pesticides also need to be applied to blueberries and other crops during bloom to control pests and diseases. But some pesticides have been shown to have negative impacts on bee health and behavior. An ARS researcher in Logan, Utah, led a project measuring pesticides in pollen collected by bees during blueberry pollination. The researchers detected 80 pesticides in the pollen. All pollen samples contained pesticides (an average of 22 pesticides per sample), even on farms with no pesticide applications. This research gives evidence of widespread pesticide exposure for managed bees in agricultural landscapes.

3. Discovery that the greatest pesticide risks to bees pollinating blueberries comes from off farm pesticide applications. Bees are often exposed to pesticides during crop pollination; however, not all exposures are dangerous to bee health. It is critical to understand what risk these pesticides have for bees. An ARS researcher in Logan, Utah, led a team in determining the risk of pesticides encountered by bumble bees and honey bees while on blueberry farms for pollination. Risk calculations consider how often and how much pesticides are encountered, and the toxicity of that pesticide to bees. Most of the risk in the pollen was from pesticides that are not allowed to be sprayed on blueberry bushes and were coming from other nearby areas. These results highlight the need to develop practices that reduce pesticide exposures for bees at the landscape scale, not just on the farm where bees are for pollination.

4. Assessment of a new invasive bee to Hawaii and its origins. Non-native bees can harm island ecosystems and may disrupt pollination systems. ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, describe a new non-native bee to Hawaii that is found across several islands. The bee is successful in Hawaii because it has many different plant resources. With genetics tools, the researchers think that two bees were the initial colonizers. This work gives the tools for regulators and conservationists to follow this bee and its impacts on the ecosystems in Hawaii.

5. Evaluation of the risk of pathogen introduction by rapid screening of a live bumble bee intercepted on imported produce. Non-native pollinators can spread diseases to native pollinators and this introduction can potentially impact the health of the native bees and disrupt pollination of plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Increased concern is placed on potential introductions from other countries that may have bee pathogens not occurring in the United States. ARS scientists in Logan, Utah, collaborated with state regulators in evaluating a live non-native bumble bee in Hawaii discovered in produce imported from another country. With genetics tools, they were able to perform rapid analysis of the introduced bee and determine it to be free of key bee pathogens. The bee species found in the produce is not native to Hawaii and this route of introduction is of concern in itself. The study shows the value of inspecting inbound shipments for non-native pollinators and having essential collaborations to evaluate potential for disease introduction.

6. New guidance protecting alfalfa leafcutting bees from parasitic wasps to increase bee survival for use in pollination of alfalfa seed crops. For alfalfa seed production, the alfalfa leafcutting bee is an essential pollinator and managed by seed growers. These bees are attacked by several kinds of parasitic wasps that can cause a large and costly loss of bees needed for pollination. ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, found that moving the bees into winter cold storage in October decreased the destruction of the developing bees by the wasps and prevented major infestations. ARS researchers also found that dichlorvos strips can be placed in incubators at the start of spring incubation for control of multiple species of parasitic wasps. This early and prolonged use of dichlorvos did not affect bee emergence and survival if the pesticide was removed before adult bees emerged. These new management tactics help to guarantee the grower can have an adequate number of bees for crop pollination.

7. Determining the status of the rare Mojave Poppy Bee. Some native bees are in decline, raising concerns about them and the pollination services they provide. Declines are likely for bees found in only a few places and restricted in the plants they visit for pollen and nectar. One such bee is the Mojave Poppy Bee, found only in the eastern part of the Mojave Desert and dependent on rare bear poppies to provide food for its offspring. Following up on claims that it is now extinct in southwestern Utah, an ARS team in Logan, Utah, searched for this bee in Clark County, Nevada, on the blooming Las Vegas Bear Poppy, in 2021 and 2022 and failed to find any Mojave Poppy Bees. In contrast, in 2020, good numbers of this bee were found in several spots. Results from this study will help to inform the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their determination on whether to list the Mojave Poppy Bee as an endangered species.

8. Stable status of native bees in Pinnacles National Park for three decades. There is concern that bees, primary pollinators of plants, are in decline with consequences to food security. ARS researchers from Logan, Utah, recently completed a two-year field survey of bee species in Pinnacles National Park, in California, as part a three-decade study determining if bee diversity is stable in a protected landscape. Results document a continued rich bee fauna at this hot spot of bee diversity and highlight the value of protected lands to conserve pollinators. Additionally, the ARS researchers documented native bees using aphid-produced honeydew, a behavior rarely noticed. This alternate food source may support bees in the spring when there are few flowers blooming.

9. The diversity of native bees of Gold Butte National Monument during exceptional drought. Climate change is anticipated to impact bee health and survival and potentially disrupt pollination of plants in both agriculture and natural ecosystems. Despite two years of exceptional drought in the eastern Mojave Desert, ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, found more than 250 native bee species in Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada, and recorded many bee-plant interactions. These findings indicate that some species may be resilient and able to survive the harsh conditions of this desert region. The types of bees found in the spring were different from those in late summer and fall. Mesquite, desert marigold, arrow weed, indigo bush, and rabbit brush supported these diverse bee species. A new species of a mining bee was discovered on turpentine broom. The findings illustrate the need to monitor bee populations over several years to determine the stability of the bee communities and impacts of climate change in different environments.

10. Improved systematics and understanding of the long-horned bees. One of the most abundant and diverse groups of bees in the United States and the world are the long-horned bees in the tribe Eucerini with more than 750 species. These bees are important pollinators of wild and agriculturally important plants, such as squash. Using DNA sequences and morphological data, ARS researchers in Logan, Utah, and collaborators have resolved how the bees in this group are related to each other at the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and biogeographic levels. This data improves the understanding of how the group evolved and provides essential information on the biology and identifying this important group of bees. This information is needed for those examining pollination of crops and other plants and those interested in conservation.

Review Publications
McCabe, L.M., Boyle, N.K., Scalici, M.B., Pitts Singer, T. 2021. Adult body size measurement redundancies in Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). PeerJ. 9. Article e12344. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12344.
Curbelo, K., Price, D., Koch, J. 2021. A brief assessment of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) abundance in forest and non-forested habitats across an altitude gradient on Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i. Pacific Science. 75(4):513-524. https://doi.org/10.2984/75.4.4.
Odanaka, K.A., Branstetter, M.G., Tobin, K.B., Rehan, S.M. 2022. Phylogenomics and historical biogeography of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Nomada (Hymenoptera: Apidae) using ultraconserved elements. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 170. Article 107453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107453.
Spears, L.R., Christman, M.E., Koch, J., Looney, C., Ramirez, R.A. 2021. A review of bee captures in pest monitoring traps and future directions for research and collaboration. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 12(1):1-12. Article 49. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmab041.
Pinilla-Gallego, M.S., Rowe, L.M., Gibbs, J., Pitts Singer, T., Isaacs, R. 2022. Improving Osmia lignaria and O. cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) retention with preferred nest materials and attractant spray. Journal of Applied Entomology. 146(6):743-752. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.13001.
Branstetter, M.G., Longino, J.T., Reyes-López, J., Brady, S., Schultz, T.R. 2022. Out of the temperate zone: A phylogenomic test of the biogeographical conservatism hypothesis in a contrarian clade of ants. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14462.
Branstetter, M.G., Longino, J.T. 2022. UCE phylogenomics of New World Cryptopone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) elucidates genus boundaries, species boundaries, and the vicariant history of a temperate-tropical disjunction. Insect Systematics and Diversity. 6(1):1-23. Article 6. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab031.
Freitas, F.V., Branstetter, M.G., Casali, D.M., Aguiar, A.J., Griswold, T.L., Almeida, E.A. 2022. Phylogenomic dating and Bayesian biogeography illuminate an antitropical pattern for eucerine bees. Journal of Biogeography. 49(6):1034-1047. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14359.
Ward, P.S., Branstetter, M.G. 2022. Species paraphyly and social parasitism: Phylogenomics, morphology, and geography clarify the evolution of the Pseudomyrmex elongatulus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a Mesoamerican ant clade. Insect Systematics and Diversity. 6(1):1-31. Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab025.
Camacho, G.P., Franco, W., Branstetter, M.G., Pie, M.R., Longino, J.T., Schultz, T.J., Feitosa, R.M. 2022. UCE phylogenomics resolves major relationships among ectaheteromorph ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae): A new classification for the subfamilies and the description of a new genus. Insect Systematics and Diversity. 6(1):1-20. Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab026.
Kopit, A.M., Klinger, E., Cox-Foster, D.L., Ramirez, R.A., Pitts Singer, T. 2021. Effects of provision type and pesticide exposure on the larval development of Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Environmental Entomology. 51(1):240-251. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab119.
Koch, J., McCabe, L.M., Love, B.G., Cox-Foster, D.L. 2021. Genetic and usurpation data support high incidence of bumble bee nest invasion by socially parasitic bumble bee, Bombus insularis. Journal of Insect Science. 21(5):1-7. Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab063.
Graham, K.K., Milbrath, M.O., Zhang, Y., Soehnlen, A., Baert, N., McArt, S., Isaacs, R. 2021. Identities, concentrations, and sources of pesticide exposure in pollen collected by managed bees during blueberry pollination. Scientific Reports. 11. Article 16857. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96249-z.
Graham, K.K., Milbrath, M.O., Zhang, Y., Baert, N., McArt, S., Isaacs, R. 2022. Pesticide risk to managed bees during blueberry pollination is primarily driven by off-farm exposures. Scientific Reports. 12. Article 7189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11156-1.
Kasparek, M., Griswold, T.L. 2021. New species of the genus Eoanthidium (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) from the Middle East link the Afrotropical and Palaearctic Realms, with a key to the Palaearctic taxa. Journal of Natural History. 55(33-34):2083-2110. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.1977406.
Litman, J.R., Fateryga, A.V., Griswold, T.L., Aubert, M., Proshchalykin, M.Y., Divelec, R.L., Burrows, S., Praz, C.J. 2021. Paraphyly and low levels of genetic divergence in morphologically distinct taxa: Revision of the Pseudoanthidium scapulare complex of carder bees (Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 195(4):1287-1337. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab062.
Nu, Z., Yuan, F., Ascher, J.S., Kasparek, M., Orr, M.C., Griswold, T.L., Zhu, C. 2020. Bees of the genus Anthidium Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae: Anthidiini) from China. Zootaxa. 4867(1):001-067. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4867.1.1.
Bossert, S., Wood, T.J., Patiny, S., Michez, D., Almeida, E.A., Minckley, R.L., Packer, L., Neff, J.L., Copeland, R.S., Straka, J., Pauly, A., Griswold, T.L., Brady, S.G., Danforth, B.N., Murray, E.A. 2022. Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification of the mining bee family Andrenidae. Systematic Entomology. 47(2):283-302. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12530.
Koch, J., Tabor, J.A., Montoya-Aiona, K., Eiben, J. 2021. The invasion of Megachile policaris (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) to Hawai‘i. Journal of Insect Science. 21(5):1-9. Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab065.
Koch, J., King, C.B., Lindsay, T.T., Matsunaga, J.N., Mossman, B. 2022. The interception of Bombus impatiens Cresson, 1863 found in imported produce purchased in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings. 54:37-40.
Koch, J., Cane, J.H. 2022. Pollen column, and a wax canopy, in a first nest description of Bombus (Cullumanobombus) morrisoni (Apidae). Apidologie. 53. Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-022-00943-4.
Martinez-Lopez, O., Koch, J., Martinez-Morales, M., Navarrete-Gutierrez, D., Enriquez, E., Vandame, R. 2021. Reduction in the potential distribution of bumble bees (Apidae: Bombus) in Mesoamerica under different climate change scenarios: Conservation implications. Global Change Biology. 27(9):1772-1787. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15559.
Jardeleza, M.G., Koch, J., Pearse, I., Ghalambor, C., Hufbauer, R.A. 2021. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and adaptation in morphology and performance of an invasive species in a novel environment. Ecological Entomology. 47(1):25-37. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13087.
McCabe, L.M., Cobb, N.S. 2021. From bees to flies: Global shift in pollinator communities along elevation gradients. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 8. Article 626124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.626124.