Affiliation: ORISE

Dr. Zachary Lamas is a NIFA postdoctoral fellow at ORISE, where he researches the effects of pathogens and pesticides on honey bee health (Apis mellifera). His primary focus is Varroa destructor, a parasite that significantly impacts honey bees. Varroa is an effective vector for honey bee viruses and has altered the global virome of these insects. From a research perspective, Varroa is not only an economically important pest but also represents an evolutionary host switch and serves as a model organism for studying vector-borne diseases. Pesticides affect honey bee health through both toxic and sublethal exposures. The combined effects of biotic and abiotic stressors and their interactions on bee health necessitate ongoing research.