Aspects concerning the bionomics of the parasitic honey bee brood mite, Varroa
jacobsoni Oudemans were investigated. Mite mortality is great during the winter season
when the host colony is not rearing brood, appearing to be independent of the mortality of
its host. In winter period, no significant association between the...
Bumble bees provide vital pollination services in both native and agricultural landscapes. However, in recent years, bumble bee populations have experienced global population declines. The primary causes of these declines have been attributed to the environmental impacts of pathogens, pesticide use and habitat fragmentation. While research has examined the impacts...
In the Willamette Valley of Oregon, a combination of the need for rotational crops and an increased desire for biofuel production created interest in planting Brassica napus (canola). However, questions were raised arisen over the potential damage canola production could have on the preexisting Brassica vegetable seed industry. To address...
The tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi (Rennie), parasitizes the
honey bee, Apis mellifera L., an insect used extensively by humans
for pollination of domestic crops and for bee products, primarily
honey.
This parasite was first discovered in 1921 on the Isle of
Wight, a small island situated in the English Channel...
Up to 99.9% of native North American grasslands have been degraded since European settlement, primarily due to agricultural conversion. Today, grasslands are a top priority for restoration as they provide essential habitat for many rare and endangered species; however, the majority of studies in grasslands have focused on vegetation or...
Chalkbrood is a mycosis of larvae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee,
Megachile rotundata (Fabricius). It is a serious threat to alfalfa seed
growers in western North America who use populations of this bee for
pollination. Basic studies were conducted to determine the etiology of
this disease and the course of...
Thirteen New World populations of Megachile rotundata and M. apicalis and
two Old World populations of M. rotundata were analyzed at 23 enzyme loci using
cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Conventional and G- or C-banded karyotypes were
also examined in these populations. The principal findings are (1) No differences
were found in...
Due to a growing body of literature documenting declines in pollinator populations, there has been increased public interest in pollinator conservation. In urban and suburban landscapes, many gardeners and urban land managers are interested in gardening for pollinators, particularly bees. Simultaneously, many homeowners and municipalities are interested in other aspects...