Standardized protocol for collecting bee samples to generate molecular data
This protocol provides guidance on the appropriate collection of bee specimens or tissue samples for molecular analysis, with an emphasis on generating genetic and genomic data while ensuring tissue integrity. Specifically, the protocol focuses on tissue collection and storage methods, including relevant specimen metadata recording and reporting, but does not cover any downstream handling or analyses, which vary depending on the aims of a given project or study. This protocol is specifically designed for freshly collected, individual bee specimens intended for genetic, genomic, or other molecular analyses. While molecular approaches to bee monitoring are not the primary focus, we emphasize their promising role for future applications. This protocol is part of a series developed in association with the U.S. National Native Bee Monitoring Network to standardize bee monitoring practices.
Authors
- Michael G. Branstetter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3734-6166)
- Margarita María López-Uribe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8185-2904)
- S. Hollis Woodard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4948-1282)
- Shalene Jha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7199-6106)
- Hannah K. Levenson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1667-0127)
- Brianne Du Clos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2138-597X)
- James P. Strange (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9612-6868)
- Jonathan B. Koch
- Bryan N. Danforth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-428X)
- Liam Whiteman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3700-5429)
Institutions
- University of California, Riverside (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Cornell University (US)
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Melittology
- Published
- 2025-02-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi123.22596
- Primary Topic
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00