We test nucleus colonies of bees in indoor flight chambers (FCs) contained in a negative-pressure, HEPA-filtered, environmental control module (ECM). A personal computer (PC) data acquisition and control (DAC) system operates the ECM and FCs. The DAC also continuously monitors and controls environmental conditions and measures colony responses such as changes in biomass, colony temperature, relative humidity, and sound emissions. DAC output can also be linked to our ecotoxicological simulation model for honey bee populations. The model simplifies data processing and interpretation of results and eventually could calibrate the responses of colonies maintained in indoor flight chambers to those kept in the natural environment.

HEPA-Filtered Environmental Control Module

Unlike chemical pesticides, MPCAs are self-propagating and dispersive. Precautions must be taken during tests to ensure that these materials, especially exotic or genetically engineered pathogens, are not released into the environment. Initial testing must be conducted indoors under stringent biological containment to avoid cross-contamination between treatments and to prevent accidental release. The challenge is evaluating the hazards of microbial pathogens to bee colony health and productivity while guarding against the accidental release of the pathogens to the external environment.

Given the potential for MPCAs to impact colony homeostasis and the need to prevent release to the environment, our principal objective is to develop a facility and test protocols that: provide ASTM (or equivalent quality) procedures to assess MPCA hazards to bee colonies and secondary interactions likely to influence the impact of MPCAs, while maintaining stringent containment of bees and pathogens; furnish a portfolio of measurement and assessment endpoints to detect and assess the potential of microbial insecticides to harm bee colonies, and facilitate the comparison of laboratory results (with appropriate cautions) to colony responses under field conditions.

UM's unique facilities allow us to fly honey bees indoors throughout the year. We test whole colonies of bees housed in clear acrylic hives connected by wind tunnels (flight tube) to feeders. HEPA-filtered air flows through the tunnel from the feeder toward the hive. The DAC controls lights, temperature, and humidity in the ECM. It also monitors bee activities and colony performance. A similar system of hive sensors and computerized data acquisition is used in our field-based electronic hives.

A single flight tube
The ECM houses six of these FCs.