Effects of fungicide and adjuvant sprays on nesting behavior in two managed solitary bees, Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata

Almond_ICPThe blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria) is an alternative managed bee used by some tree fruit and nut growers around the US. A recent study by Project ICP research partners Derek Artz and Theresa Pitts-Singer found that a common fungicide and adjuvant caused blue orchard bees to be disoriented and have difficulty recognizing their nest. Artz and Pitts-Singer found similar results for the leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata). Read the article here: (http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0135688)