**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HONEY BEES PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN CROP POLLINATION AND CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE VALUE OF CROP PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE INVASIVE, PARASITIC SMALL HIVE BEETLE (SHB) IS AN INSIDIOUS PEST THAT WEAKENS HONEY BEE COLONIES BY FEEDING ON POLLEN, HONEY AND BROOD. SHB CAN CAUSE THE DEATHS OF STRONG COLONIES WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC FOR SMALL COLONIES AND BEE KEEPING STORAGE FACILITIES. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SHB ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS GLOBAL WARMING ALLOWS THE BEETLE TO EXPAND ITS RANGE WITHIN THE U.S. CURRENT SHB CONTROL RELIES EITHER ON THE USE OF CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES, WHICH ARE ALSO TOXIC TO THE HONEY BEE, OR ON LABOR INTENSIVE MECHANICAL TRAPS THAT ONLY CATCH ADULT BEETLES. DESPITE BEING A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM FOR BEE KEEPERS, THE POTENTIAL USE OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS TO MANAGE SHB POPULATIONS HAS RECEIVED LIMITED ATTENTION. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY INSECT PATHOGENS THAT CAN SAFELY BE USED AGAINST SHB, WITHOUT HARMING HONEY BEES. WE WILL EXAMINE INSECT VIRUSES THAT INFECT SHB, AND PESTICIDAL PROTEINS DERIVED FROM INSECT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICALLY BASED CONTROL SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PEST. THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEE SAFE, PATHOGEN BASED STRATEGIES FOR SUPPRESSION OF SHB REPRESENTS A NOVEL CONTRIBUTION TOWARD ENHANCED HONEY BEE WELL BEING.