This project addresses pollinator protection EPA's Regional Agricultural IPM Grant Fact Sheet 2013 Grantee: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Assessing the Impact of Mosquito Control Adulticiding Practices on Honey Bee Health to Improve Current Best Management Practices for Mosquito Control and Honey Bee Domestication Funding Awarded: $167,874 'he use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in mosquito control is crucial in the "reduction of mosquitoes as well as mosquito-borne pathogens causing human diseases. ^Mosquito adulticiding is often necessary to minimize the risk of vector borne diseases to humans. As awareness of the effects of pesticides on bees increases along with recognition of the essential role bees play in agriculture, there is also interest on the part of mosquito control personnel in the effects of adulticiding on honey bees. There is great need to identify the actual risk posed by pesticides to honey bees as a key issue in pollinator protection. This project will assess the risk posed by mosquito adulticides to honey bees by examining toxicity and exposure and assessing long term impacts on honey bee colonies located inside and outside of mosquito control districts. By assessing these impacts, best management practices (BMPs) in mosquito control will be improved to minimize impacts on honey bees. BMPs for beekeepers will also be improved to ensure their bees are best protected during aduiticide applications. The goal is to improve communication between mosquito control districts and beekeepers, and BMPs resulting from this study will provide a mechanism for doing so. Programs and Activities [Research: Characterize toxicities of honey bees to insecticides used in mosquito abatement program; determine the acute mortality of bees at increasing distances away from adulticiding fog trucks; i determine if type of adulticiding equipment can minimize impact on bees; optimize hive management I to minimize impact of pesticides on bees; and examine the effects of mosquito abatement programs , on long-term health of existing bee colonies, i Outreach arid Knoii'ledge Transfer: Design and distribute BMPs to mosquito control districts and bee- t keepers. BMPs, in the formats of documents, webpages, and cellphone applications will be raised promoted through webinars and journal publications. Desired Outcomes issues. Develop and distribute BMPs for mosquito control that minimizes impact on honey bees. • Develop and distribute BMPs for beekeepers to minimize exposure to mosquito ^ adulticides. • Increased communications between mosquito control programs and beekeepers. . • increased number of mosquito control programs that factor honeybees into their integrated mosquito control programs. \ • Increased number of beekeepers registered with their state ag departments and local mosquito control programs. Objectives Characterize toxicities for honey bees to insecticides used in mosquito abatement programs. Determine the acute mortality of bees at increasing distances away from ground ULV adulticiding Determine if type of adulticiding equipment minimizes impact on bees Optimize hive management to minimize impact of pesticides on bees Examine the effects of mosquito abatement programs on the health of existing bee colonies Develop best management practices for distribution to mosquito control districts in the US ------- |