Abby Lois

Position

Associate Research Specialist

Education and Background

B.S. in Environmental Science with a certificate in Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI (2017)

M.S. in Foundations of Community Engagement and Education University of Milwaukee (Current)

Research Interests

I am broadly interested in scientific communication, education, and the health effects of climate change and the environmental issues.  My projects in the Guédot Lab concentrate on the interaction of insects, the environment, and humans in both pollinator and pest species.

Within the scope of pollination ecology, I have investigated the effects of landscape composition and placement of hives on honey bee foraging, hive supplemental feeding tactics in low nutrient crops, and fungicides sprayed within the pollination window.  I am currently collaborating on a project evaluating how pollinator landscape and supplemental wildflower plantings in monoculture crops impact the diversity and abundance of wild bees.

I have also worked on determining the basic composition of the wasp community within Wisconsin vineyards.  I am currently focussed on laboratory assays to assess whether yellowjackets are primary or secondary pests within vineyards and the susceptibility of both table and wine grape cultivars.  Coinciding with that project, I am developing targeted push-pull strategies with chemical attractants and repellents to manage wasp pressure more effectively and sustainabily.  In addition, I develop our website and other materials to communicate our team’s results to Wisconsin’s growers and the broader public.

Personal Interests

Painting, cooking, gardening, hiking/backpacking, and activism.

Recent Publications

Lois A.N., Jaffe B.D., Guédot C. 2018. Supplemental feeding solutions do not improve honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae )foraging on cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2019.106624

Guzman A., Gaines-Day H.R., Lois A.N., Steffan S.A., Brunet J., Zalapa J., Guédot C. 2019. Surrounding landscape and spatial arrangement of honey bee hives affect pollen foraging and yield in cranberry.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1716472

Jaffe B.D., Lois A.N., Guédot C. 2018. Effect of fungicide on pollen foraging by honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in cranberry differs by fungicide type. Journal of Economic Entomology. doi :10.1093/jee/toy353

Guédot C., Hietala-Henschell, K., Lois, A.N. 2018. Species Composition, Abundance and Seasonal Phenology of Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Wisconsin Vineyards. Insects, 9, 57.  PDF