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Examining historical rates of leafcutting bee cell pathogens to establish baseline infectivity rates for alfalfa seed growers

Justin Clements, Maggie Haylett, Brenda Nelson, Doug Walsh
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.09.475547
Justin Clements
1Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology, University of Idaho, Parma Research Station, ID, 83660
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  • For correspondence: justinclements@uidaho.edu
Maggie Haylett
1Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology, University of Idaho, Parma Research Station, ID, 83660
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Brenda Nelson
1Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology, University of Idaho, Parma Research Station, ID, 83660
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Doug Walsh
2Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
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Abstract

The alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) is one of the primary pollinators for the alfalfa seed industry. The alfalfa leafcutting bee is a solitary cavity nesting bee. Female Megachile rotundata bees will construct and provision individual brood cells lined with cut leaves (cocoon) and will gather nectar and pollen to place within the constructed cocoon. The female bee will lay a single egg within the constructed cocoon and leave the egg to undergo larval stage development and pupation into the adult stage. During this time multiple pathogens and parasitoids can prey on the developing larvae, resulting in the loss of the future adult bee. A major concern for commercial alfalfa seed growers is the presence of invertebrate pests and fugal pathogens. In the present study, we used historical data from the Parma Cocoon Diagnostic Laboratory to determine baseline rates of pathogen and parasite infection of Megachile rotundata cells and used this analysis to determine historical infection rates and cutoffs for management practices. Additionally, using a Faxitron (X-ray) analysis for Megachile rotundata cell obtained in 2020, we compared the presence of chalkbrood, pathogens, and parasitoids in samples collected from both growers’ stocks and newly purchased Canada bees. The results of the investigation demonstrate historical averages of the presence of chalkbrood, pathogens, and parasitoids. We also show a significant increase in chalkbrood and predators in 2007-2011 and a significant difference in chalkbrood and predators between bee samples obtained from Canada and grower stocks.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
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Posted January 11, 2022.
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Examining historical rates of leafcutting bee cell pathogens to establish baseline infectivity rates for alfalfa seed growers
Justin Clements, Maggie Haylett, Brenda Nelson, Doug Walsh
bioRxiv 2022.01.09.475547; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.09.475547
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Examining historical rates of leafcutting bee cell pathogens to establish baseline infectivity rates for alfalfa seed growers
Justin Clements, Maggie Haylett, Brenda Nelson, Doug Walsh
bioRxiv 2022.01.09.475547; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.09.475547

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