Effects of Integrated Pest Management on Honey Bee Behavior and Colony Level Health

Kaitlyn Bresnahan ’25, Biology major Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology Honey bees face threats from many directions, but the most pressing is the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. One popular method of combatting Varroa is adding drone comb which forces the colony to raise larger, mite-preferred male bees. While this method reduces mite numbers, it may add unnecessary colony-level stress. My research investigates how forcing the hive to raise drones for mite management affects honey bee population growth and foraging behavior. This was accomplished by estimating adult bee population and area of drone brood, and by examining foraging behavior of the bees before, during, and after management with drone comb. Data collected will help us to understand unintended effects of integrated pest management and how to further support honey bees. Combining behavioral and nutritional data will allow us to tell a complete story about how integrated pest management affects honey bees.