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Abstract
Bees, both wild and managed, have experienced a significant decline in recent years. Researchers have identified numerous factors contributing to this decline. To address some of these factors, this dissertation examines two approaches to managing bee decline: one on the honey bee species Apis mellifera, and the other on restoring wild bee habitats. In the case of Apis mellifera, two different methods of applying oxalic acid were studied to reduce populations of Varroa destructor, the primary cause of honey bee mortality worldwide. Beekeepers urgently need effective strategies for controlling Varroa. Oxalic acid (OA) has gained popularity with beekeepers in the US due to its ability to kill Varroa while still remaining relatively inexpensive. Our first study examined applying vaporized OA multiple times during the brood rearing season. We found no evidence that frequent periodic applications of OA were effective at reducing Varroa. Our second study investigated using vaporized OA after implementing a forced brood break. By caging the queen for a limited time, all the bees emerged, leaving the colony free of capped brood. We found that combining vaporization with a brood break increased mite mortality by 6 times. Our final study investigated incorporating floral resources, wildflowers, into an erosion control seed mix for wild bee habitat restoration. With habitat loss and fragmentation as the number one reason wild bee populations are in decline, reclaiming and conserving land is one way to provide food and shelter for wild bees. Research has shown that bee friendly landscapes don’t have to reside just in parks or forests, They can include urban and agricultural areas along with eroded lands. Typically, erosion control seed mixes consist of only native and non-native grasses. We compared two plots, one with a traditional grass seed mix and the other plot with wildflowers incorporated into an erosion mitigation seed mix specifically selected for their ability to attract bees, and thrive in the Piedmont region of Georgia. Our results found plots that incorporated wildflowers into the seed mix had a greater abundance, richness and diversity of bees compared to those plots that only contained grass.