Mission:
The mission of the Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research unit is the development of non-Apis bees and enhancement of the role of native species in the pollination of annual, perennial, greenhouse, and nursery crops while maintaining environmental quality. Such bees include, but are not limited to, mason bees, leafcutting bees, and bumble bees. Research emphases include the development and improvement of commercial management systems (including pest and disease control and diagnosis), biology and natural history that relates to bee management, pollination for crop production, conservation and ecology, and taxonomy and systematics. The primary goals are to quantify pollinator populations over time, to investigate factors impacting pollinators, to improve pollinator availability, and to understand better how bee population size and density affect crop pollination. Critical to this mission is determining how pathogens and parasites, pesticides, and floral resource diversity and availability affect all pollinators. Evaluating and conserving wild bee diversity are equally important to preserve environmental quality and pollination services.