Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Gore, Jeffrey

Committee Member

Basu, Priyadarshini

Committee Member

Amiri, Esmaeil

Committee Member

Harris, Jeff

Committee Member

Evans, Kristine

Date of Degree

8-7-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Life Sciences

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection

Abstract

Honey bees are important pollinators that face a multitude of stressors in their environment such as pathogens, parasite pressure, forage availability and pesticide exposure. This study examined how the makeup of different environments and the stressors related to those environments are affecting honey bee health in Mississippi. A field experiment was conducted during the first year of the study across four distinct landscapes ranging from intensively cultivated cropland to predominantly natural forage habitats to assess the impact of landscape availability on varying honey bee colony health parameters. Locations that had cultivated crops within foraging range produced more honey and brood likely due to consistent food sources. A field experiment for year 2 was conducted at two locations within Mississippi; one location consisted primarily of cultivated crops and the other location was primarily made up of natural forage. Honey bee colonies were swapped between locations at the half way point of the study to examine how honey bee colonies respond to being moved between locations. Honey bees quickly adapted to their new environments; consistent food sources remained essential for maintaining honey bee colony health. Complimentary to these studies, insecticide efficacy trials were conducted across the southern region of the United States to assess target pest efficacy and data were compared with honey bee toxicity data to assess target pest efficacy with honey bee toxicity. Novaluron, flonicamid and chlorantraniliprole were the best options for target pest control while minimizing honey bee toxicity. These findings give farmers options when making spray applications that consider pest efficacy and toxicity to honey bees.

Download

Included in

Entomology Commons

Share

COinS