as well. In order to conserve and protect our pollinator resources, this chapter
describes a number of major stressors that lead to bee mortality and offers suggestions to improve bee and ultimately general pollinator survival. Recommended
actions for beekeepers include adoption of honey bee strains that are bred for specific
climates and survival traits as well as maintaining diverse forage around the apiary.
Farmers are recommended to maintain areas of wild plants for diverse foraging
sources, where a healthy bee diet also aids in crop pollination. In order to protect
food availability, control prices, and support agricultural sustainability, governments
can review ongoing research concerning known bee and pollinator stressors and
implement legislation and guidelines to control human-created stressors such as
pesticides while encouraging pollinator-friendly land management.
Keywords Pollinators · Pollination · Wild bees · Honey bees · Agriculture · Crops ·
Bee conservation and protection
Acronyms
ABPV
Acute Bee Paralysis Virus
AIV
Apis Iridescent Virus
ARS
Agricultural Research Service
CCD
Colony Collapse Disorder
CRP
European Union Conservation Reserve Program
DWV
Deformed Wing Virus
EU€
European Union Euro
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
IAPV
Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
KBV
Kashmir Bee Virus
NASS
National Agricultural Statistics Service
NRCS
National Resources Conservation Service
NWRS
National Wildlife Refuge System
OPMP
USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy
US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
US FWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
US$
United States Dollar
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
VSH
Varroa-Sensitive Hygiene
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C. Li