It's especially important now due to the troubling bee losses throughout the nation. What do we know about pesticides and what can we do?
Noted honey bee researcher Scott McArt of Cornell University will present a free guest webinar hosted by the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) on Monday, Feb. 24 from 4 to 5 p.m. All interested persons can register on the CAMBP website here: https://tinyurl.com/4r2uv279
The title: "Pesticides and Bees: What We Know and What We Can Do?"
McArt will discuss a number of issues, including:
- What steps can regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take to safeguard our pollinators?
- Are protections from the EPA adequate or inadequate?
"This talk will dig into my team's efforts to synthesize the science on this topic while interacting with regulatory agencies, beekeepers, farmers, and the pesticide industry," said McArt, an associate professor of pollinator health who helps run the Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies at Cornell University. "The talk will also describe some attempts from industry to misinform the public, explain why these attempts occurred and their effectiveness, and how evidence-based legislation on this topic can potentially be improved via public engagement."
This presentation is "especially important given the unprecedented overwinter bee losses this year," CAMPB officials said.
According to a Feb. 20th article in the American Bee Journal, "nationwide survey of beekeepers has revealed catastrophic honey bee colony losses across the United States, with commercial operations reporting an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025. These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources."
McArt said he is particularly interested in scientific research that can inform management decisions by beekeepers, farmers, regulatory agencies, and the public. Research in the McArt lab focuses on the impact of pesticides, pathogens, and management practices on the health of honey bees and wild pollinators.
The Cornell bee researcher writes a monthly column, Notes from the Lab, for the American Bee Journal. He summarizes scientific publications for a non-scientific audience. "The goal is to make the emerging pollinator health science more approachable and relevant to beekeepers," he says.
McArt also coordinates beekeeping workshops, such as "Introduction to Honey Bee Queen Rearing" and "Honey Bee Biology and Disease Management for Veterinarians" and engages with growers regarding pesticide risk to bees and creating pollinator-friendly habitat. His extension materials are onsite. He is featured in a YouTube "Inside the Hive" podcast, titled "Varroa Mites in Australia and Pesticides Misinformation - Dr. Scott McArt."
When asked "What gets you out of bed in the morning?" during a new faculty interview, he responded "Most of the factors contributing to declines in bee health (pesticide exposure, lack of floral resources, disease, inadequate management practices) are preventable. With targeted research efforts and educated stakeholders, regulatory agencies and public, we can make a difference."
Pollination by managed honey bee colonies adds at least $18 billion to the value of U.S. agriculture annually through increased yields and superior-quality harvests, according to the USDA-ARS (Agricultural Research Service). "Major factors threatening honey bee health can be divided into four general areas: parasites and pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, and sub-lethal exposure to pesticides. In reality though, these factors tend to overlap and interact with one another, which complicates issues. In addition, there are other issues that have impacts on honey bee health such as the narrow genetic base of honey bees in the United States."
McArt received his doctorate in entomology (2012) from Cornell University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Massachusetts, Amhurst. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental and evolutionary biology (2001) from Dartmouth College, and a master's degree in biological sciences (2006) from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
“Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees. The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable,” said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project Apis m. “Honey bees are the backbone of our food system, pollinating the crops that feed our nation. If we continue to see losses at this rate, we simply won't be able to sustain current food production. The industry must look inward and outward for solutions to chronic bee health failure.”
CAMPB, which disseminates science-based beekeeping information through a network of organizations and trained volunteers, was founded in 2016 by Elina Lastro Niño, associate professor of Cooperative Extension and a member of the faculty of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. She serves as the director, and Wendy Mather and Kian Nikzad are the co-program managers.
On its website: "CAMPB is a continuous train-the-trainer effort. The CAMBP's vision is to certify Honey Bee Ambassador, Apprentice, Journey, and Master level beekeepers so they can effectively communicate the importance of honey bees and other pollinators within their communities, serve as mentors for other beekeepers, and become the informational conduit between the beekeeping communities throughout the state and UC Cooperative Extension staff."