Pollinators in Agriculture

Joe RinehartInsect Cryobiology and Ecophysiology GroupUSDA-ARS/ NDSUFargo, North Dakota

honeybee

NativePollinators

ManagedPollinators

Alfalfa leafcutting bee Megachile rotundata

USDA-ARS

spring-summer

summer

winter

spring

SpringCold

Stress

Adult emergence after cold stress as a red eyed pupa

Red-eye pupae exposed to low temperatures exhibited sub-lethal effects on adult performance.

Bennett et al. 2015

• Less adult feeding

• Shorter adult longevity

• Other issues as well

control FTR STR

24 72 61 6

48 69 49 7

72 72 40 3

96 72 30 6

hours survivedtotal deformity

normal wing deformity

Red-eye pupae exposed to -5°C resulted in some adults exhibiting wing deformities.

Data courtesy of Meg Bennett

control low temp stress

low temp stress males females collectively

% defects in flight 71% 29% 50%

Data taken under cover of darkness from Meg Bennett

red-eyed pupaeSTR/FTR for 1 week

newly emerged adults0°C treatment

2 weeksof development

Data taken by force from Meg Bennett

mid-June

May incubation

Jun-July1st generation

Sept-April

July

July-August2nd generation

Diapause

Diapause

1-5 larval instars

eye pigmented pupa

prepupa

body pigmented pupa

adult

to diapauseor not to diapause

• diapause determination under maternal control• “decision” affected by daylength and temperature

American FarmersPredominantly non-diapausers

Increased diseaseDecreased total yield

(<1 bee returned for every one released)

Canadian FarmersPredominantly diapausers

Increased bee healthIncreased total yield

(2-4 bees returned for every one released)

40 tons imported annually

Pollination Nation Research Experience for Undergraduates

20152013

2017 2018

ICE Research Network

USDAGeorge YocumJoe RinehartMarcia HagenMarnie LarsonNyle JonasonBonnie MuhlDacotah MelicherArun RajamohanKorie Debardlabon

NDSUKendra GreenleeJulia BowsherGiancarlo LopezJeff KittilsonMicki PalmersheimMia Park Courtney GrulaHeather NorthElisabeth WilsonKayla EarlsLiz CambronGeorgia DavisOsama Mahdi

CDC FoundationAndrew DoschJacob Campbell

AlumniAlex Torson (University of Western Ontario)Meg Bennett (Arizona State University)

PIsSupport peepsPostdocsGrad StudentsUndergraduatesReally fortunate dudes

Noha AbdelrahmanAmundsonClaire CampionAlex EvensonErica KellyAdele MaloneRikki WalterAmanda Wilson