Feature Pollinator Research Underway By Jennifer Gray, AmericanHort
To date, Cowles has embarked upon dose-response tests on minute pirate bugs, using neonicotinoid insecticides and their suggested replacements. An early goal for the project is to establish whether the pirate bugs can be utilized
Te Horticultural Research
Institute, in collaboration with AmericanHort, established the Horticultural Industry Bee & Pollinator Stewardship Initiative in 2014. One of the primary goals of the Initiative is to identify and fund research that will help answer key science questions and fill gaps needed to inform, design, and refine an industry stewardship program. Te Initiative’s focus on research is a key component in establishing a clearer understanding of horticulture’s impact on pollinators.
One researcher who received project funding this year is Dr. Richard Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (Windsor, CT). Dr. Cowles is analyzing pesticide residue in pollen and nectar on neonicotinoid-treated plants. Using plants commonly used in the landscape, Cowles expects to further develop an understanding of systemic insecticide update and potential interactions with nectar and pollen. Why is this important? Currently, there are significant gaps in data related to the concentration of systemic insecticides in pollen and nectar. Establishing whether treated plants (when treated properly) are safe to bees and other pollinators will aid in setting stewardship standards for growers and assist in educating retail sellers and consumers about grower practices.
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in the bioassays (ie: can the team quantify the insecticide residues in the pirate bugs). His team is further investigating the active ingredients, application methods, and application timing relative to flowering as factors that may influence the residues found in nectar and pollen of ornamental plants.
Summer2015
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