Use of Osmia lignaria propinqua (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) as a mobile pollinator of orchard crops
1991
The development of intensive agricultural practices in areas that include cross-pollinated crops requires the introduction of large numbers of pollinating insects only during short flowering periods. The pollination efficacy of one pollinator, Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, would be greatly improved if nesting populations could be successfully transported from crop to crop. Results of a 5-yr study that was focused on this subject are summarized as follows. Two studies involved moving individual nest blocks various distances within orchards, two additional experiments tested the possibility of moving bees nesting in small nest shelters greater distances during active nesting periods, and one study tested transport of bees nesting in large nest shelters constructed on flat-bed trailers. All of the transported bees in the first four experiments abandoned established nests immediately after they were moved, and none of these bees reestablished nesting within the confines of experimental plots. Conversely, > 85% of females nesting in trailer-shelters continued to nest uninterruptedly after these large nest shelters were moved. Two additional Osmia species were also successfully transported when these large trailer-shelters were moved. A short discussion of nest orientation requirements expressed by Osmia is included.
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