EVENT DESCRIPTION

Interactions Among Bee Species: What is the impact of a honey bee apiary on native bees?

With changing climate and land uses, our pollinators are facing increased pressure on their populations.  In the last few years, increased concern and research reports raise the question about negative impacts of honey bee colonies on native bees. 
This talk will present the results from a three-year, comprehensive study to examine the interactions of honey bee colonies with native bees.  Scientists at the USDA/ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit in Logan, Utah, generated sentinel colonies and populations of a native bumble bee and a solitary bee.  Using cages set over floral resources, competition was generated between honey bees, bumble bees, and the solitary bees, to examine competition.  In wild lands, the sentinel bees and honey bees were deployed, as well as monitoring the endemic bee species to determine if competition occurred and how the species interacted. 
Data will be shared to answer how reproduction, floral interactions, and pathogen sharing/impact are affected by honey bees.  The carrying capacity (i.e. how many floral resources or food for the bees) will be emphasized as the most important factor. You will also learn how other factors such as climate change and other herbivores can impact these interactions. 

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