Location: Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research
Project Number: 2080-30500-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Mar 5, 2025
End Date: Mar 4, 2030
Objective:
Over 80 percent of plants world-wide require pollination for fruit and seed production, with the majority of pollination performed by bees. Diverse bee species are needed for increased yield and quality of many fruit, nut, vegetable, and seed crops, including alfalfa, almonds, tomatoes, apples, and cherries. Within the last decade, populations of honey bees and other pollinators have declined, with the first-ever declaration of endangered species status for bees. Research is required to develop best-management practices for bees and their habitats and improve understanding of current and historic geographic ranges of bees, knowledge of bee interactions with plants, and resolution of species boundaries and evolutionary relationships among bees. We will develop and test strategies and methods that are needed to improve bee stewardship and mitigate stress from pathogens, parasites, and pesticides. Knowledge gained will support food production and conservation of biodiversity. The overarching goal of this plan is to provide stakeholders means to pollinate crops and to conserve bees through understanding, employing, and safeguarding pollinators.
Specific objectives and sub-objectives:
Objective 1: Conduct research to better understand bee nutritional needs and effects of environment on bee physiology, behavior, and reproduction and use the information to improve methods for production and management of non-Apis bees for pollination of crops grown in conventional and controlled environment agriculture. Sub-objective 1A: Examine the linkage between nutritional needs and performance in non-Apis bees (immunity, longevity, and reproduction) to support effective management in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Sub-objective 1B: Improve best management practices for pollinator use in conventional and controlled environment cropping systems that result in sustainable pollinator supply and effective pollination. Objective 2: Identify environmental and biological factors associated with bee mortality in non-Apis bees and develop methods to diagnose and control bee mortality caused by parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and climate variability. Sub-objective 2A: Identify impacts of climate, pesticides, and other abiotic stressors on non-Apis bee health. Sub-objective 2B: Devise new diagnostic methods and treatments for the pathogens, pests, and parasites of non-Apis bees. Objective 3: Improve bee systematics and genomic resources, develop tools for bee identification, generate new knowledge of bee diversity and distribution, and identify mechanisms that affect bee populations and communities. Sub-objective 3A: Evaluate bee biodiversity and distribution and identify the mechanisms that affect bee populations and communities. Sub-objective 3B: Improve foundational knowledge of bee diversity through integrative systematics and population genetics research. Sub-objective 3C: Develop new morphological, genetic, and technology-based resources that enhance efforts to identify, monitor, and conserve bee diversity.
Approach:
Objective 1: H1A.1: The hypothesis that high-quality pollen nutrition and low pesticide incidence enhances overwintering survival, nest establishment, and production of sexuals in Bombus impatiens, a commercialized pollinator, will be tested. G1A.1: New drought-tolerant pollinator planting seed mixes will be developed to support wild and managed bees in the Great Basin region. H1B.1: The hypothesis that genetic diversity of managed alkali bees is lower than wild populations will be tested. G1B.1: New species of Osmia bees will be developed for managed pollination of berry crops. G1B.2: The behavior of three solitary bee species (O. lignaria, M. rotundata, and O. bruneri) released in controlled environment agriculture fields that use LED lights will be investigated to create protocols for pollination. G1B.3: Abiotic and biotic factors that limit sustainable propagation of commercially important cavity nesting bees will be assessed.
Objective 2: H2A.1: The hypothesis that insect pest monitoring traps have no effect on the genetic diversity and persistence of bumble bees in agricultural ecosystems will be tested. G2A.1: Insecticides labeled for use on alfalfa for control of Lygus bug will be evaluated for lethal or sublethal impacts on alfalfa leafcutting bees. G2A.2: The impact of climate on the temporal occurrence of parasitoids and predators of alfalfa leafcutting bees used for pollination of alfalfa seed production will be assessed. G2A.3: The ability of Osmia lignaria to adapt to novel climates in commercial orchard settings will be assessed. G2B.1: The systematics of the solitary bee parasites Sapyga and Melittobia will be revised and new identification tools will be generated. G2B.2: The host range of Apis Filamentous Virus in pollinating insects and its effect on survival in bumble bees and Osmia lignaria will be assessed. G2B.3: How stress factors impact the outcome of Apis Filamentous Virus in adult honey bees will be assessed.
Objective 3: H3.1: The hypothesis that colony density and genetic diversity of non-native Bombus impatiens in the Pacific Northwest decreases towards the end of their invasion front will be tested. G3A.1: The role of wildfire management on bee communities in national forests will be investigated. G3A.2: The spatial and phenological coverage of bees in the U.S. will be expanded based on gaps identified using the U.S. National Pollinating Insects Collection. G3A.3: The distribution, population status, and genetics of the Mojave poppy bee, Perdita meconis, will be assessed, informing conservation actions. G3B.1: The phylogenetics and population genetics of imperiled and agriculturally important bee species in the genera Bombus and Hylaeus will be investigated. G3B.2: The systematics of several clades of agriculturally important megachilid bees will be revised, including groups within Osmiini, Anthidiini, and Megachilini. G3C.1: An affordable method for sequencing DNA barcodes from bees using nanopore technology will be developed. G3C.3: A novel framework for the non-lethal surveying and monitoring of bees in refuge areas in CA will be developed.
