Adult Control I
Adult Control I
Pollinators in the superfamily Apoidea are a nontarget group of primary concern and their numbers continue to broadly decline in North America. Mosquito adulticides used per EPA regulations are designed to minimize nontarget impacts on pollinators with special attention given to honeybees (Apis melifera). The importance of wild pollinators (i.e., nondomestic bees of the family Apidae, or families Colletidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae) has led to growing scientific and public attention, cementing the need for further research. The work described here provides an update to Manatee County Mosquito Control District’s ongoing and expanded efforts monitoring the impact of aerial adulticides on wild bee populations.
This research was conducted using Blue Vane Traps (BVTs) set weekly at 14 sites served by MCMCD to selectively sample hymenopteran pollinators. Research was conducted June-October of 2022 and 2023. Collected bees were counted and identified to the lowest possible taxa, a minimum of genus. Data include 28 species of bee across 10 genera. Samples were compared against the timing and spray blocks of helicopter adulticide missions in a before-after control-impact (BACI) design and analyzed for any resulting changes in abundance or diversity. Missions analyzed for 2022 include 12 pre-post samples under 10 adulticide missions, while 2023 includes 19 samples under 11 adulticide missions. Results to-date detect no significant effect of MCMCD’s aerial adulticide program on wild bee populations. This research may be of operational use to other agencies interested in monitoring nontarget effects of aerial missions and will serve to further establish trust with an environmentally conscious public.