1. Dr. Marla Spivak
Distinguished McKnight Professor, University of Minnesota,
and MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award Recipient

2. Your breakfast without bees
Scientific American April 2009
Value of crops in US that depend on pollination:
>18.9 billion
($217 billion worldwide)

3. Agri- Growth Council Lunch
Without Bees

4. Nutritional requirements of all bees:
Flowers
• Pollen - protein
• Nectar – carbs
• Water

5. Parasites
Viruses
Poor
nutrition
Environmental
Pesticides
In-Hive
Pesticides
Gut pathogens
Colony Collapse Disorder

6. Colony Collapse Disorder
Interaction of pathogens
Effects of neonicotinyls pesticides on bees
Bee Breeding
Landscape Effects on Nutritional Health of
Honey and Native Bees
Propolis (plant resins)
Benefits to bee immune system
Chemistry and value as antimicrobial to humans
Our Research Projects

7. What can you do?
Plant
flowers!
• Reduce use of pesticides
• Encourage roadside plantings of flowers
• CRP land: flower seed mixtures to bloom over
season

8. Please help increase public awareness
about the benefits of pollinators

9. Thank you!
www.extension.umn.edu/honeybees