Honeybee feeding on feeder with sucrose solution
I am currently leading an investigation on the effects of sub-lethal pesticide dosages on honey bee (Apis mellifera) distance estimation. This work is being done under James Nieh , my advisor. Investigators have noted that Colony Collapse Disorder is characterized by empty colonies and some studies have shown that pesticides may play a role in bees leaving the colony and never returning (nests contain a healthy queen and brood but very few or no foragers). With the help of undergraduate students, we are looking to see if pesticides, specifically imidacloprid, affects a forager’s ability to navigate. For more information, a local news site covered my research here.
Previously, I worked with another Master’s student in the Nieh lab studying the behaviors of bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). Specifically, how, if any, they use sound cues to communicate food presence. We used a laser vibrometer to record the sounds and also observe the behaviors of the foragers to determine if there are any other modalities of communication between foragers.
For any questions regarding what I’m currently studying, please email me!
