August 2024

WSU Bee Program Developments

Dr. Priya Chakrabarti Basu: New Assistant Professor in Pollinator Health

Join us in welcoming Dr. Priya Chakrabarti Basu to our program! She will officially join sometime in January 2025.

The Department of Entomology interviewed candidates, for the vacant Assistant Professor in Pollinator Health position, in late March 2024. We are happy to announce Dr. Chakrabarti Basu has accepted this position.
 
Her research focuses on understanding the impacts of multiple stressors on bee pollinators and how best to formulate mitigative strategies. She employs various interdisciplinary research techniques such as multiomics (mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics), molecular biology, pollination biology, insect physiology, insect neuroethology and apicultural practices to answer research questions.

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Dr. Chelsea Abegg: New Postdoctoral Researcher

Join us in welcoming Dr. Chelsea Abegg to Washington!

Chelsea recently finished her Ph.D. in Entomology at Rutgers University, New Jersey. Her research focused on honey bee toxicity via pesticides and has a passion to find better solutions for pest management that will compliment honey bee, environmental, & human health. She is joining Dr. Zhang’s lab to research Metarhizium as a biopesticide option or Varroa management.

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Dr. Rae Olsson Promoted to Scholarly Assistant Professor

Rae started with the Bee Program in 2020 as a postdoctoral researcher studying the effects of environmental conditions on the health and winter mortality of honey bees. During this time, they discovered a deep love of teaching and extension, and in supporting honey bee research rather than leading their own. After a year and a half as the program administrator for the bee program, Rae became a Scholarly Assistant Professor. Their work focuses on teaching university courses, leading extension education projects, and mentoring the next generation of entomologists in the department.

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Molly Quade Becomes New Zhang Lab Masters Student

Molly graduated from WSU in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education; a program consisting of a B.S. in Agriculture and Food Systems integrated with a secondary education teaching certificate. 

Previously as an undergraduate she worked in the Hopkins lab on a project, collaborating with Fungi Perfecti, examining the ability of Reishi mushroom extract to prime honey bee immune systems. This led her to pursue her interest in studying the relationships between insects and fungi here at WSU. Now, she is researching the use of Metarhizium and other entomopathogenic fungi in honey bee IPM. This Metarhizium shows potential to be the first biocontrol for varroa mites. Her project will continue the development of this fungus as a Varroa treatment option, as well as look at other potential hosts for Metarhizium.

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Joey Rosario Becomes New Hopkins Lab Masters Student

Joey Rosario is majored in Biology and Fine Arts at WSU. She joined the honey bee program to learn more about bees and decided to further her education in entomology! Her research focuses on pest management for hive equipment storage including finding different regimens that are effective and honey bee-safe.

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Check Out These New Videos on Our WSU Bee Program YouTube Channel!

Diagnostic Microscopy Training (Available in English and Spanish)

English —

The WSU Bee Program held a Diagnostic Microscopy Workshop in Puyallup and Mt. Vernon Research and Extension Centers in May 2024. With very high demand, we created a recorded version of the seminar, that is finally finished and ready to view! You can find it on our WSU Bee Program YouTube channel.

Seminar: Microscopes, Nosema, and Tracheal Mites, Oh My!:

How to Quantify Nosema Step-by-step video: 

Spanish —

El programa de abejas de WSU llevo a cabo un taller de Microscopía Diagnóstica en los centros de investigación y de extensión de Puyallup y Mt. Vernon en mayo de 2024. Debido a la alta demanda, creamos una versión grabada del seminario que finalmente está terminada y lista para ver. Puede encontrarla en nuestro canal de youtube del Programa de Abejas de WSU.

Seminario: Microscopios, Nosema, y Ácaros Traqueales:

Cómo cuantificar la infección por Nosema:

Mason Bee Care

Every year, millions of bee hotels are purchased with the best of intentions—to provide homes for mason bees. However, many homeowners are unaware of the year-round maintenance required, inadvertently putting these vital bee populations at risk. Just like honeybee hives, mason bee hotels need regular upkeep. In the wild, mason bees find natural holes that are well-camouflaged and difficult for predators to access. But when you set up a bee hotel, you’re creating an environment that predators can easily exploit. Researchers and industry experts have noticed an increase in predators and parasites, posing a significant threat to mason bees. If not addressed, bee hotels may become infested, further endangering these crucial pollinators.

Join Bri Price (WSU Bee Program Extension Coordinator) and Thyra McKelvie (with RentMasonBees.com) to learn how to properly care for mason bees throughout the four seasons. This video highlights the importance of correct nesting material, protecting the filled nest blocks from predators in early summer, as well as harvesting cocoons and cleaning nest blocks in the fall!

How to Care for Your Mason Bees:

Looking for more updates on beekeeper happenings in Washington? Check out the Washington State Beekeepers Association newsletters!

Author: Bri Price, Honey Bee Program Extension Coordinator