** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HOST-ASSOCIATED MICROBESCAN HAVE DRAMATIC EFFECTS ON THE HEALTH, FECUNDITY, AND LONGEVITY OF MANY INSECT HOSTS, INCLUDING THE HONEY BEE. THE HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA) IS MODERN AGRICULTURE'S MOST ECONOMICALLY BENEFICIAL INSECT BECAUSE OF THE POLLINATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE THOUSANDS OF FORAGING WORKERS IN EACH COLONY, THEIR COSMOPOLITAN FLORAL PREFERENCES, AND THEIR LONG HISTORY OF COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT. ACCORDINGLY, OUR RESEARCH GROUP HAS BEEN KEENLY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING HOW HONEY BEE-ASSOCIATED MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES SUPPORT THE FUNCTION OF INDIVIDUAL BEES AND THE COLONY SUPERORGANISM. WE PREVIOUSLY DISCOVERED THAT HONEY BEE QUEENS HOST A UNIQUE MICROBIOME COMPARED TO THOSE OF WORKER BEES, THAT THIS MICROBE IS DOMINATED BY AN ORGANISM CALLED BOMBELLA APIS, THAT B. APIS SUPPLEMENTS BEE NUTRITION, AND THAT IT GENERATES A POTENT ANTIFUNGAL.OUR PRIOR WORK THEREFOREGENERATED SEVERAL IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTED PROMISING AVENUES FOR FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION. WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THIS MICROBE, AND OTHERS, IN SHAPING QUEEN FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY AND THEREFORE COLONY HEALTH.IT IS VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW INSECT-ASSOCIATED MICROBES SHAPE INSECT HEALTH, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, AND AFFECT THEIR ECOLOGICAL ROLE IN FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.