An introduction to bee and pesticide research

Abstract Bees and pesticides is a topic which attracts a considerable amount of research and media attention. It is also an applied topic, with experimental results informing policy. Policy decisions have‐real world consequences for food production and need to be made using the best available evidence. This article aims to be an entry point for the increasing number of researchers now studying the topic, who may not have worked with pesticides beforehand. We have assumed a general knowledge of bee ecology, but no knowledge of pesticides. We build up the knowledge base throughout the article, introducing concepts one‐by‐one and building on those concepts to tackle the more complex ideas later in the article. Synthesis and applications . Our article is a starting point for those entering bee and pesticide research, and can help introduce the complex concepts and terminology of the field. We point to some further reading and resources throughout and offer some advice on best practice within the field. We hope this will ultimately help new researchers to quickly design high‐quality experiments, which can better inform pesticide policy and usage.