Managed bees used for pollination of crops can be exposed to pesticides used on the farm where they are brought to. However, in heterogeneous landscapes, and especially those with diverse cropping systems, managed bees can also be exposed to pesticides applied to neighboring landscapes. Additionally, these neighboring landscapes can often pose a greater risk to bees as they may not use the same bee-safety precautions as those used on the farm where pollination is needed. Here, I’ll present pesticide exposure data for three managed bee species, Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, and Nomia melanderi, used for pollination of two crops, highbush blueberry and alfalfa grown for seed. Discussion of these data will focus on differences between species and landscapes, how these differences impact exposure and risk for managed bees, and what potential solutions exist for reducing risk.
