Measurements of residues in pollen and nectar are used to establish exposure levels of bees to pesticides and refine risk assessments in tier 2 studies. The US EPA <i>Guidance on Exposure and Effects Testing for Assessing Risks to Bees</i> provides on outline of factors to consider when designing field residue studies. However this document does not cover all the variables, and there are a multitude of factors, which influence the outcome in these studies. From the study director’s perspective, success in a field residue program can be defined as providing all samples of sufficient size for residue analysis, with GLP generated documentation, from a “worst case” proposed or labelled use scenario of the product, resulting in a coherent data set, with minimal deviations, none of which impact the integrity of the study. From the selection of the crop variety, its maintenance, and bloom timing, to the application method, bee colony attributes, and  sample collection technique, many decisions impact the propensity of a field trial to be successful (i.e. to provide sufficient, representative matrices for analysis). Here we present considerations and recommendations gleaned from nearly 100 bee matrix residue trials conducted in the previous 3 years in the USA. Initial decisions on whether to hand collect or bee collect pollen and nectar, to efficiency in forager bee sample collection, the use of pollen traps and water provisioning, to sample sizes, and replication, we will propose a toolkit that will help standardize the methodology used to collect samples from a variety of crops and improve the quality of residue data used to assess the exposure of test chemicals to bees.  <br/>

To bee collect or not to bee collect: Efficiency and efficacy in commodity collections for bee residue studies

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.