Meghan Milbrath
The Milbrath lab studies risk factors that affect the health of honey bees and other pollinators. We focus on a combination of field, lab, and computational work to answer questions related to pollinator health.
Current Assignment: Teaching 10% | Research 45% | Extension 45%
Teaching
My current teaching program consists of the three week rotation for veterinary students in honey bee medicine.
Research
My program is focused on using an interdisciplinary approach, rooted in epidemiology and environmental health and risk assessment, to understand risks to pollinator health, especially during crop pollination. We examine how nutrition and pesticide exposure affect disease development and colony health outcomes in honey bees, as well as basic research into common honey bee pests and pathogens.
Concentrations
Honey bee medicine training for veterinary practitioners
Bacterial disease research
Pollinator health during crop pollination
Planting for pollinators
Professional experience
2020 – Present- Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
2021 – Researcher, Swedish Agricultural University Department of Ecology
2015-2020 – Academic Specialist, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
2012 – 2013- Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
Selected publications
Validation of diagnostic methods for European foulbrood on commercial honey bee colonies in the United States, 2021. MO Milbrath, PD Fowler, SK Abban, D Lopez, JD Evans. Journal of Insect Science 21 (6), 6
Identities, concentrations, and sources of pesticide exposure in pollen collected by managed bees during blueberry pollination. 2022. KK Graham, MO Milbrath, Y Zhang, A Soehnlen, N Baert, S McArt, ...Scientific Reports 11 (1), 16857
Honey bee bacterial diseases. 2021. M Milbrath. Honey Bee Medicine for the Veterinary Practitioner, 277-293
Pesticide risk to managed bees during blueberry pollination is primarily driven by off-farm exposures. 2021. KK Graham, MO Milbrath, Y Zhang, N Baert, S McArt, R Isaacs, Scientific Reports 12 (1), 7189.
Association of excessive precipitation and agricultural land use with honey bee colony performance. 2023 GM Quinlan, R Isaacs, CRV Otto, AH Smart, MO Milbrath. Landscape Ecology, 1-15.
Related Work
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Diagnostic tools for honey bee diseases online learning module
Published on June 18, 2024
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2024 American Bee Research Conference proceedings
Published on June 6, 2024
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Getting started with beekeeping in Michigan
Published on June 6, 2024
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What should I do if I find a swarm of bees?
Published on April 18, 2024
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Find or sell local bees with Northern Bee Network
Published on March 15, 2024
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Pollinator protection programs and resources from Michigan State University Extension
Published on February 29, 2024
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Apiculture programs and resources from Michigan State University Extension
Published on February 29, 2024
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What we wished we'd known in the bee-gining
Published on January 30, 2024