The newly established open-access scientific collection in the Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO) journal recently welcomed its first linked WildPosh paper.

The study outlines a semi‑field protocol that compares the individual and combined effects of the insecticide Mospilan SG (acetamiprid) and the fungicide Folicur (tebuconazole) on two closely related mason bees: Osmia bicornis and O. brevicornis. Using 40 flight cages and a full‑factorial design, adult bees are exposed for at least a week to four spray treatments while researchers monitor survival, reproduction, foraging behaviour, and pollination success. By testing realistic exposure levels, the protocol is set to reveal whether these chemicals or their mixture affect the species differently, strengthening future EU risk‑assessment guidelines that move beyond a sole focus on the Western honeybee.

Read the paper here.

The WildPosh collection in RIO will grow alongside the project. Currently, in addition to the paper, you can find the project’s grand proposal, offering comprehensive insight into WildPosh’s mission of improving the risk assessment of pesticide exposure in wild pollinators. Access the collection here.