Unseen Threats: Investigating the role of mite communities in bumble bee population decline

Project Description

Bumble bee populations are in decline globally with multiple interacting stressors such as habitat loss, pathogens, and pesticide exposure being implicated. However, the role of mites, some of which may act as hidden parasites or disease vectors, remains poorly understood. This research will address this gap by:

  1. Documenting the diversity and distribution of phoretic and nest-dwelling mites in wild and commercial Bombus spp.
  2. Investigating their behavior and interactions with bee brood and nest resources
  3. Assessing their potential as vectors of key bee pathogens (e.g. Nosema bombi, Crithidia bombi)
  4. Comparing mite communities between commercial colonies and wild bee populations

Principal Investigator

Collaborators

Student members