Factors influencing honey bee abundance across agricultural landscapes in the Midsouth.

摘要

Populations of honey bees have declined worldwide in recent years. One suspected cause is the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture. Experiments were conducted to examine potential exposure routes of pesticides to honey bees in the Midsouth. Neonicotinoid seed treatment compounds were studied to determine the rate at which they drift during planting and the rate at which they diminish in crop tissue during crop development. Honey bee foraging activity in Midsouth crops was observed to determine when and at what densities foraging honey bees could be active during pesticide applications. This project was designed to aid in understanding the risks that pesticides could potentially pose to honey bees in the Midsouth.