Investigation of the consumption of raw pollen and nectar, and their quantification, by honey bee queens either through direct feeding or via trophallaxis from nurse bees
Project Objectives:
Objective 1
Objective 2
To characterize the potential routes and daily amounts by which queens may consume pollen and nectar—either directly or through interactions with nurse bees.
To determine whether the consumption of these resources is necessary for queen egg-laying.
Background:
This research project seeks to fill critical knowledge gaps in honey bee queen nutrition and potential pesticide exposure. The study will address two main objectives, listed above.
By investigating these questions, the project aims to broaden our understanding of queen biology and provide foundational data on queen consumption habits. These insights could contribute to more accurate exposure models, such as BeeREX, and support the EPA’s efforts to develop comprehensive pollinator risk assessments. Furthermore, a better understanding of queen dietary needs and exposure routes could offer vital information for endangered species assessments, ensuring that regulatory protections reflect the most sensitive and ecologically significant members of bee populations. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and reports to the USEPA.
