Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L.) (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) as a potential pollinator for greenhouse muskmelon crops: a behavioural study
2000
Albano, S. ((Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa (Portugal). Secçao de Protecçao Integrada)) | Salvado, E. | Mexia, A.
The use of bumblebees for muskmelon pollination is beginning to be widely adopted. However, there are still some controversy between growers and technicians about its efficacy. In order to contribute for such controversy this study was made, based on the behaviour analysis of the bumblebee, either at the pollination activity level of the hives or at the individual level of the pollinator during its visit to the flower. An integrated approach of results suggests the existence of four major distinct aspects for the understanding of the bumblebee foraging activity on this crop: (a) colony state, (b) flower's availability, (c) short term variations in flowers' reward and optimal foraging, (d) learning process. Bumblebees are potential pollinators of the muskmelon either through pollen spreading during their visits to the flowers linked with their grooming behaviour, or the systematic pattern for their visits in time, as a response to variations in nectar amounts and availability, even if small. However, some management practices may be needed to optimise such potential
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]الكلمات المفتاحية الخاصة بالمكنز الزراعي (أجروفوك)
المعلومات البيبليوغرافية
تم تزويد هذا السجل من قبل National Institute for Agricultural Research