Determining Pesticide Risks to Beneficial Non-target Invertebrates

We are investigating understudied risk pathways of exposure to pesticides in the environment by wild bees and other non-target beneficial insects.  These pathways can include contaminated nesting substrates and materials, such as soil, detritus, leaf material and resin.  We are assessing mortality, reproductive effects and exposure risks, with the goal of developing best management practices for pesticide use to optimize the tradeoff between controlling pests and protecting beneficial invertebrates.

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We are currently developing research to quantify the impacts of imidacloprid exposure on movement, foraging and fecundity in solitary bees, utilizing video tracking and deep-learning methods.