Natural pollination by the bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) in tomato greenhouses leads to reduction of pesticide input
1994
Steinberg, S.
The use of the earth bumble bee, Bombus terrestris, for natural pollination in greenhouse tomatoes is rapidly spreading in Israel. Its vulnerability to pesticides demands selective use and special consideration when applying chemicals against various pests in the tomato crop. A survey of 25 greenhouse tomato growers from most growing regions showed that the very use of the bumble bee brought about significant reduction in chemical input. The number of chemical treatments against the key pests, sweet-potato whitefly and leafminers, was cut to a sixth and a tenth, respectively. Spraying against spider mites and fungal diseases was also reduced. The commercial use of the bumble bee for natural pollination in the greenhouse virtually forces the grower to seek more sophisticated ways for controlling the whitefly, the vector of the tomato yellow leaf curl virus. He seals the greenhouse with 50-mesh insect-proof netting and searches for non-chemical alternatives, such as the use of natural enemies against leafminers (parasitic wasps) and spider mites (predatory mites). The introduction of natural pollination has thus, as a spiral effect, saved the tomato grower considerable expenses on chemical treatments and has greatly improved the greenhouse environment. The B. terrestris is a classical example of a genuine incentive!
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