Our Effects team is experienced with laboratory testing of both larval and adult honey bee life stages. This includes relevant oral and contact acute tests as well as toxicity of residue honeybee laboratory exposures; including study design, validity criteria, data interpretation and reporting. We also have familiarity with various semi-field and field test designs (e.g., honey bee tunnel test) and their utility for pollinator risk assessment schemes. Additionally, our field studies team is experienced with the conduct and study management for pollen and nectar residue studies on various crop types.

Several Waterborne staff members have experience in reviewing and evaluating best management practices for supporting pollinator biodiversity. Our ecological modeling expertise has been used to investigate colony-level impacts of stressors to honeybees. More recently, we have expanded our work to focus on non-Apis species of wild bees. Our staff members have also focused on pollinator diversity in relation to the current scientific literature and public and private initiatives, and development of educational tools designed to synthesize and communicate scientific information for multiple stakeholders.

Our team has contributed to hazard and risk assessments involving pollinators, which have evaluated pesticide effects on pollinators and other non-target terrestrial invertebrates, including neonicotinoid insecticides for seed treatment uses. We’ve conducted assessments incorporating methodology approaches outlined in the USEPA/PMRA/CDPR bee risk assessment white paper and the subsequent guidance document.