My program focuses on understanding the relationship between pollinators and their environment, with an emphasis on the effects of pesticides and understanding the physiological basis of pesticide toxicity.
Research area:
Insect pollinators are vital for the production of many fruits, nuts and vegetables, including apples, blueberries, almonds, tomatoes and pumpkins. These crops are also vulnerable to pests and diseases, which are often controlled through the use of pesticides. However, pesticides may be toxic to insect pollinators, setting up a conflict between the need for pollination and the need for pest and disease control. In our lab we are seeking to understand how to protect pollinators from the pesticides and other toxins they encounter. The managed European honey bee, Apis mellifera, serves as a model pollinator for toxicological testing. While the honey bee is the most economically important pollinator in the U.S. and serves as an excellent model species, we are also interested in understanding pesticide toxicity in other pollinating insects as well.
Current research projects include:
1. Using sequencing to determine the floral origin of bee-collected pollen
2. Determining the impact of corn seed treatment insecticides on honey bee colonies in Ohio
3. Comparative toxicogenomics between pollinating bee species: honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombus impatiens), alfalfa leafcutter bees (Megachile rotundata) and squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa)
4. Assessment of honey bee immature survival using a photographic method and analysis by volunteers at http://broodmapper.com
5. Comparing the success of managed honey bee colonies in urban and rural environments in Ohio
Teaching
Beekeeping (ENTMLGY 2200) Spring Semesters
Pesticide Science (ENTMLGY 5800) Fall Semesters (co-taught with Celeste Welty)
Graduate Students
Hanna McKenzie (Advisor), Entomology M.S. Student. 2020-present
Dylan Ricke (Advisor), Entomology M.S. Student. 2019-present
Emily Walker (Advisor), Environmental Sciences Graduate Program M.S. Student. 2019-2021
Harper McMinn-Sauder (Advisor), Entomology Ph.D. Student. 2018-present
Stephanie Murray (Advisor), Entomology M.S. Graduated Dec. 2019
Rodney Richardson (Advisor), Entomology Ph.D. Graduated Dec. 2018
Natalia Riusech (Advisor), Environmental Sciences Graduate Program M.S. Graduated Dec. 2017
Douglas Sponsler (Advisor), Entomology Ph.D. Student. Graduated Dec. 2016
Baini Li (Advisor), Entomology M.S. Student. 2012-2013
Fariba Kanga (Co-advisor), Entomology M.S. Student. 2014-2015
