D3117: (1st Place) The effects of pest monitoring traps on bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) populations

Pest monitoring traps are an important insect pest management (IPM) tool used to detect invasive insects throughout the United States. Traps are typically baited with visual and/or olfactory cues to attract specific pests, but some traps capture non-target insects (bycatch) such as bumble bees (Bombus spp.). The decline of bumble bee species is of increasing concern, making minimizing bycatch crucial when considering pest survey techniques. Current research indicates that monitoring traps do not affect bumble bee colony development or capture rate. Yet, we do not know if monitoring traps jeopardize the persistence and survival of such critical pollinators. In our study, we demonstrate the potential for microsatellite analyses to assess the effect of bycatch on bumble bee genetic diversity across agricultural landscapes in northern Utah. The results generated from our study will inform IPM strategies to reduce the harm of pest monitoring traps on pollinator populations while maintaining effective pest surveillance programs.