MARIN POLLEN PROJECT 

Marin County California Beekeepers Team Up with
Pennsylvania State University for 2012 Pollen Study

In 2012, the Marin Pollen Project, in conjunction with Maryann Frazier and the Pennsylvania State University Colony Collapse Disorder team, conducted a study to assess pesticide use and potential impacts on pollinators in urban environments in Marin County California.

Marin beekeepers collected monthly pollen samples from thirty honey bee hives during the primary growing season from February, 2012 through October, 2012.  The hive locations were geographically spread out across Marin County.  

Honeybees, as concentrators, are well suited for the job of collecting pollen which is directly affected by the air, water, and soil in our environment. Pollen was screened for residues of 172 different herbicides, pesticides, metabolites, accelerants, and other chemicals. 

The results will help assess chemical use in our neighborhood environments.   This important information will be shared with the greater community in order to help educate the general public of the problems beekeepers are experiencing locally with pollinator populations and how individuals can help to be part of the solution.

To view the results of this project, click on "The Honey Bees Next Door - Backyard Beekeeping as a Means to Monitor Pesticides in Urban Environments" by Brian Bates and Maryann Frazier (Adviser), Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State Univesity.